Galactic bridge between Kueyen and Melipal

The Yepun telescope — the VLT’s fourth 8.2-metre giant Unit Telescope — points a powerful laser towards the centre of the Milky Way, which appears like a galactic bridge between the domes of two of the VLT's other Unit Telescopes — Kueyen and Melipal. The Laser Guide Star is part of the VLT’s Adaptive Optics system. By correcting images for atmospheric turbulence, this technique allows astronomers to get images almost as sharp as if the telescope were in space.