The VLT’s primary and tertiary mirrors

Detail of the optical system of one of the VLT's giant telescopes. At the centre of the 8.2-metre primary mirror (M1) is a black cylinder which supports a much smaller mirror: the tertiary mirror (M3). This flat mirror has the function of redirecting the collimated light to whichever instrument is in use. In the picture, the M3 is moved out of the way for observations with the instrument installed at the Cassegrain focal station, located below the M1 supporting cell.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:img_7667-cc
Type:Photographic
Release date:4 July 2011, 09:06
Size:5616 x 3744 px

About the Object

Name:Very Large Telescope
Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope
Category:Paranal

Image Formats

Large JPEG
7.4 MB
Screensize JPEG
256.2 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
336.9 KB
1280x1024
521.7 KB
1600x1200
736.0 KB
1920x1200
857.3 KB
2048x1536
1.1 MB