Telesco-pedestal

The ESO 3.6-metre telescope sits high on the hill in the centre of this image, with the majestic arc of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, a bright band among the multitudinous stars overhead. This image was taken at ESO's original observatory, La Silla, and exhibits the excellent viewing conditions that this site offers; La Silla enjoys about 300 clear nights per year, making it ideal for astronomers to study the Universe. The ESO 3.6-metre telescope began operations in 1977, and has undergone numerous upgrades to keep it producing valuable science. It currently hosts the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), an expoplanet hunter that has discovered scores of alien worlds.