Astronomer contemplates the night ahead of observation at La Silla

ESO astronomer Olivier Hainaut meditates on the La Silla observatory at sunset. In the background, the image shows the Sun disk distorted by the peculiar atmospheric conditions at sunset on the Pacific Ocean, while diving into the foggy horizon above the sea.

La Silla was ESO's first observatory and is home for the 3.6-metre New Technology Telescope (NTT).