The inner workings

This view from inside one of the Unit Telescopes of ESO's Very Large Telescope gives a glimpse into the complexity and sophistication of this astronomical technology. Each of the Unit Telescopes has a main mirror 8.2 metres in diameter, and can see things four billion times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. Together they form the VLT, which is the world's most advanced optical instrument, a formidable science machine.