Press Release

High-resolution Images from the M1 Transport

19 December 1997

The present collection of twelve high-resolution photographic images illustrates the transport of the first VLT 8.2-m Zerodur mirror (M1) to Paranal. They are suitable for high-quality reproduction and complement the digital, less detailed ESO Press Photos 33a-f/97 which were published one week ago with information about this important event.

The present photos form part of a series obtained with a 6x6 cm Hasselblad camera by one of the professional photographers of the ESO EPR team that accompanied the convoy. The films were shipped to ESO-Garching for development and preparation for this presentation on the web. They have been selected with the specific purpose of providing editors with a choice of different views.

Video recordings were also made and will become available soon.

The cover of the Transport Box with the 8.2-m mirror was removed yesterday evening (Thursday, December 18, 1997). During a careful inspection of the complete mirror surface, no damage was detected.

More information is available at the ESO website about the VLT project.

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About the Release

Release No.:eso9733
Legacy ID:Photo 35a-l/97
Name:Antofagasta, Mirror, Very Large Telescope
Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope
Facility:Very Large Telescope

Images

Arriving at Antofagasta
Arriving at Antofagasta
From sea to land
From sea to land
On the way to Paranal
On the way to Paranal
On the Old Panamericana on the way to Paranal
On the Old Panamericana on the way to Paranal
VLT M1 convoy in the desert
VLT M1 convoy in the desert
On the desert road
On the desert road
Atacama Desert road
Atacama Desert road
Bumps on the road
Bumps on the road
First infrared ESO image of comet Hale-Bopp
First infrared ESO image of comet Hale-Bopp
M1 convoy: almost there
M1 convoy: almost there
M1 convoy: past the gates
M1 convoy: past the gates
M1 mirror: home
M1 mirror: home