La Silla Observatory

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View from above of ESO's La Silla observation site. La Silla, in the southern part of the Atacama desert, 600 km north of Santiago de Chile, was ESO's first observation site. The site is 2400 metres above sea level, providing excellent observing conditions. ESO operates the 3.6-m telescope, the New Technology Telescope (NTT), and the 2.2-m Max-Planck-ESO telescope at La Silla. La Silla also hosts national telescopes, such as the 1.2-m Swiss Telescope (visible in the foreground on the right) and the 1.5-m Danish Telescope.

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