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Mirror mount testing for the Very Large Telescope
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Mirror mount testing for the Very Large Telescope
VLT mount manufacture. Manufacture of the mount for the Very Large Telescope (VLT) which will be based at the European Southern Observatory site at Cerro Paranal, Chile. The mount will carry an 8.2- metre diameter mirror. The mirrors weight & size is being simulated by a mock-up (brown, at lower centre). This 500-tonne azimuthal mount can rotate the mirror vertically & horizontally. The VLT will consist of 4 such telescopes mounted side by side. Together they will have the light-collecting power of a 16-metre mirror, making the VLT the worlds largest optical telescope. The VLT is due to be completed soon after 2000. Photographed in 1997 at the Ansaldo Energia factory near Milan, Italy
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Media ID 6447921
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Astrophysics Chile Construction Optical Telescope South America Under Construction
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This print showcases the mirror mount testing for the Very Large Telescope (VLT) during its manufacturing process. The VLT, which will be stationed at the European Southern Observatory site in Cerro Paranal, Chile, is set to revolutionize astronomical observations. The mount being tested here is designed to carry an impressive 8.2-meter diameter mirror. In this image, a mock-up of the massive mirror can be seen at the lower center, simulating its weight and size. This simulation allows engineers to ensure that the 500-tonne azimuthal mount can rotate both vertically and horizontally with ease. Remarkably, four telescopes like this one will be mounted side by side to create the VLT's extraordinary light-collecting power equivalent to a 16-meter mirror. Photographed in 1997 at Ansaldo Energia factory near Milan, Italy, this snapshot captures a pivotal moment in constructing what would become the world's largest optical telescope upon completion after 2000. The VLT project represents a significant milestone in astronomy and astrophysics as it promises groundbreaking discoveries and unprecedented insights into our universe. With each step taken towards its construction, anticipation grows for scientists worldwide who eagerly await its completion on Chilean soil.
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