VLT HD Timelapse Footage

[Octane]

All,

Stephane Guisard's at it again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFpeM3fxJoQ

As good as it gets.

6:34-7:04. :eyepop: :eyepop: :eyepop:

Enjoy.

H

[iceman]

Beautiful!

[lacad01]

Very impressive stuff :thumbsup:

[gary]

Simply staggering.


Whilst watching the operation of the telescopes, it is amazing how ordered everything looks.

These days the astronomers, engineers, technicians and workers have the comfort and amenity of a beautiful lodge built by ESO nearby called 'La Residencia'.
See http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/bond/Residencia.html
See http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/bond/Residencia_inside.html

This is the one that featured in the James Bond movie, the Quantum of Solice.

But a friend who worked at the VLT for part of its construction once described to me how terribly harsh and
uncomfortable it was to work there initially. They lived in shipping containers and the dry air, heat and harsh UV
light were relentless. An amazing engineering achievement and a great demonstration of what can be achieved when
people collaborate.

[multiweb]

Very cool - dream job out there. :) Must be a bit lonely though... Tequila to the recue! :P

[peterl]

Brilliant!!!!
Thanks H.
Peterl

[Jeffkop]

Thoroughly entertaining H ... really really good stuff ... ta !!!

[SkyViking]

That is just awesome. I vividly recall a freezing night we spent on top of that mountain. The view was incredible and the Zodiacal light was visible for a hours as a very bright cone in the west.
It does get lonely up there. After having gazed at the sky for hours we got invited inside by two very funny local guards at the entrance and had some coffee and a good chat. My wife is Peruvian so she kept the conversation going in spanish :) They also posed for photos with us and gave us some big posters of the VLT. Then we drove our 4WD back through the desert to Antofagasta in the middle of the night, which was an awesome experience in itself.
I later wrote an email to ESO in order to thank them and was told it had been forwarded to the guards.

[Octane]

Sounds awesome, Rolf. :)

Can anyone go up that mountain at any time? How long was the drive through the desert back to the nearest city?

H

[The_bluester]

Wow, those skies are just stunning aren't they.

Fascinating to watch all the shutters opening and closing on the observatories. Presumably for thermal control inside?

[SkyViking]

H, the mountain and immediate area is accessible by anyone, but a pre booked guided tour is required to get beyond the gate and onto the top of Paranal itself. The tour is free and can be booked here: http://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/visitors/paranal.html
How to get there: http://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/travel/paranal.html

The nearest city is Antofagasta on the coast 120 km to the north. The drive took a couple of hours. The road to the observatory is apparently fully paved now, but when I was there in 2008 they were still working on it.
I've attached a few photos from our trip to illustrate the experience. If you are ever in the area it is an absolute must see.

[SkyViking]

A couple more shots of the inner workings, and the sunset.

[glenc]

My wife and I visited Paranal on 23 April 2011. The road to Antofagasta is all paved now.
We toured the Southern Cross telescope, the control room and the accommodation place with the pool inside it.