VLT Test Cameras

When ESO’s Very Large Telescope was built, each of the four Unit Telescopes and their instruments had to undergo a test and commissioning phase, during which all systems were thoroughly tested and tuned, before entering Science Verification (SV) phase. These commissioning and verification phases were conducted with the VLT Test Cameras, two custom-built instruments placed either underneath the primary mirror at the Cassegrain focus or at the Nasmyth foci on each side of the telescope.

During the Science Verification phase of the first telescope, Unit Telescope 1 (UT1), Test Camera A was used to undertake a series of scientific observations solicited from the community. This phase took place on 17–31 August 1998. Nearly 100 hours of observations and on-sky calibrations were obtained, which were promptly released to the whole ESO community.

The first target was a globular cluster, followed by all possible types of astronomical objects, from distant galaxies and quasars to pulsars, star clusters and solar system objects (eso9842).

The VLT Test Cameras were used to commission the foci of all four Unit Telescopes with upcoming instruments.

VLT Test Cameras

The authoritative technical specifications as offered for astronomical observations are available from the Science Operations page.

Location: Paranal (now decommissioned)
Telescope: Very Large Telescope
Focus: Cassegrain and Nasmyth
Type:
  • Imager
  • Pupil Imaging Sensor
  • Wavefront Sensor
Wavelength coverage: Visible/near-infrared
Spatial resolution: Sky sampling: 0.04 arcsec/pixel
Spectral resolution:  
First light: 1998
Science goals:
  • To test and optimise the control system and optical image quality at each focus of the VLT
  • To perform the first science observations on each Unit Telescope of the VLT during its Science Verification phase
Images taken with the instrument: Link
Images of the instrument: Link
Videos of the instrument: Link
Press Releases with the instrument: Link
Consortium:
  • ESO