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Observatories > ESO III

EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY (ESO)

Credit: ESO

In 1993, ESO decides to build four very large 8 meters-telescopes (VLT). A new site was chosen at Paranal near Antofagasta in the Atacama desert in Chile. In this site, the climate is especially favorable to astronomical observations.

Above, right, the Paranal site at the beginning of the building of the telescopes. Left, the four giant telescopes: Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, commissioned respectively in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.