View source for Paranal Observatory

{{Short description|Astronomical observatory in Chile}}
{{Infobox observatory
| name = Paranal Observatory
| image = [[Image:Paranal top.jpg|295px|Cerro Paranal (main-peak) with the VLT and VST]]
| caption = {{longitem|[[Cerro Paranal]] is the observatory's main-peak where the [[Very Large Telescope|VLT]] (four units) and [[VLT Survey Telescope|VST]] (right) are located.|style=padding 5px 0; line-height: 1.3em}}
| organization = [[European Southern Observatory]]
| location = [[Cerro Paranal]], [[Chile]]
| coords = {{coord|24|37|38|S|70|24|15|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| altitude = {{Convert|2635|m|ft}}
| weather = 
| established = 
| closed = 
| website = {{URL|https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/|eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/}}
| telescope1_name = Very Large Telescope
| telescope1_type = 8.2&nbsp;m&nbsp;reflector&nbsp;(×4)
| telescope2_name = VLT Auxiliary Telescope
| telescope2_type = 1.8&nbsp;m&nbsp;reflector&nbsp;(×4)
| telescope3_name = VISTA Telescope
| telescope3_type = 4.0 m reflector
| telescope4_name = VLT Survey Telescope
| telescope4_type = 2.6 m reflector
| telescope5_name = Next-Generation Transit Survey
| telescope5_type = 0.2 m array&nbsp;(×12)
}}

'''Paranal Observatory''' is an [[astronomical observatory]] operated by the [[European Southern Observatory]] (ESO). It is located in the [[Atacama Desert]] of Northern [[Chile]] on [[Cerro Paranal]] at {{convert|2,635|m|ft|abbr=on}} altitude, {{convert|120|km|mi|-1|abbr=on}} south of [[Antofagasta]]. By total light-collecting area, it is the largest optical-infrared observatory in the Southern Hemisphere; worldwide, it is second to the [[Mauna Kea Observatory]] on Hawaii.

The [[Very Large Telescope]] (VLT), the largest telescope on Paranal, is composed of four separate {{Convert|8.2|m|in|abbr=on}} telescopes. In addition, the four main telescopes can be used simultaneously for extra light gathering capacity, and for [[interferometry]]. Four auxiliary telescopes of {{Convert|1.8|m|in|abbr=on}} each are also part of the VLTI to make it available when the main telescopes are being used for other projects. The site also houses two survey telescopes with wide fields of view, the {{Convert|4.0|m|in|abbr=on}} [[VISTA (telescope)|VISTA]] and the {{Convert|2.6|m|in|abbr=on}} [[VLT Survey Telescope]] for surveying large areas of the sky; and two arrays of small telescopes called [[NGTS]] and [[SPECULOOS]] which are dedicated to searching for [[exoplanets]].

Two major new facilities are under construction nearby: the southern part of the [[Cherenkov Telescope Array]] gamma-ray telescope (not owned by ESO) will be sited in the grounds 10&nbsp;km south-east of Paranal; while ESO's future [[E-ELT]] will be on the nearby peak of [[Cerro Armazones]] 20&nbsp;km east of Paranal, and will share some of the base facilities.

== Telescopes ==

===Aerial view ===

{{CSS image crop
|Image       = View of the Very Large Telescope.jpg
|bSize       = 300
|cWidth      = 300
|cHeight     = 150
|oTop        = 40
|oLeft       = 0
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|Description = The four [[Very Large Telescope|VLT]]s and ATs and the [[VLT Survey Telescope|VST]] on the main peak and [[VISTA (telescope)|VISTA]] in the background
}}

From an aerial view of the Paranal Observatory, the four large units of the [[Very Large Telescope|VLT]] with their four small, dome-shaped auxiliary telescopes can be clearly seen. The Survey Telescope, [[VLT Survey Telescope|VST]], is immediately adjacent to the VLT and seen in between two of its units, while [[VISTA (telescope)|VISTA]] is located on a secondary peak, some 1,500 m away in the background ''(see image)''.

=== Very Large Telescope ===
{{Main|Very Large Telescope}}

The [[Very Large Telescope]] (VLT) consists of four 8.2-metre telescopes operating in the [[visible light|visible]] and [[infrared]]. These telescopes, along with four smaller auxiliary telescopes, are also combined to operate as an [[Astronomical optical interferometry|optical interferometer]] on certain nights of the year. All of the 8.2-metre telescopes have [[adaptive optics]] and a full suite of instruments. The primary mirrors of the main telescopes are 8.2 meters in diameter but, in practice, the pupil of the telescopes is defined by the secondary mirrors, effectively limiting the usable diameter to 8.0 meters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Very Large Telescope: Requirements for Scientific Instruments on the VLT Unit Telescopes |url=https://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/develop/documents/VLT-SPE-ESO-10000-2723_is1.pdf |website=www.eso.org |access-date=4 January 2024}}</ref>

=== VISTA Survey Telescope ===
{{Main|VISTA (telescope)}}

[[VISTA (telescope)|VISTA]] is the ''Visible & Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy'', a 4.0-metre telescope with a wide [[field of view]], focusing on infrared [[Astronomical survey|surveys]] of the sky. It was built close to [[European Southern Observatory|ESO's]] [[Very Large Telescope|VLT]] by a consortium of 18 universities from the United Kingdom, led by [[Queen Mary University of London]]. VISTA was handed over to the European Southern Observatory in December 2009.

=== VLT Survey Telescope (VST) ===
{{Main|VLT Survey Telescope}}

The [[VLT Survey Telescope]] or VST is a 2.6-metre telescope with a wide field imager intended to aid the four Very Large Telescope (VLTs) in their scientific aims.

=== Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) === 
{{main|Next-Generation Transit Survey}}

The [[Next-Generation Transit Survey]] (NGTS) is an [[exoplanet]]-survey facility located a few kilometers from the main peak. It consists of an array of twelve 0.2-meter robotic telescopes with a very large field of view of 96 square degrees or several hundred times the area of the full moon. The survey aims to discover numerous [[super-Earth]]s and Neptune-sized planets around nearby stars, using [[Transit method|transit photometry]] to detect them. NGTS is managed by a partnership of seven academic institutions from Chile, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and its design is based on the [[SuperWASP]] project. Science operations began in early 2015.<ref name="eso1502">
{{cite web
 |title=New Exoplanet-hunting Telescopes on Paranal
 |url=http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1502/
 |publisher=European Southern Observatory
 |access-date=22 May 2015
}}</ref><ref name="ngts">{{cite web
 |title=About NGTS
 |publisher=Next Generation Transit Survey
 |url=http://www.ngtransits.org/
 |access-date=3 September 2015
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531140608/http://www.ngtransits.org/
 |archive-date=31 May 2015
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

=== SPECULOOS Southern Observatory (SSO) ===
{{Main|SPECULOOS}}
The SPECULOOS Southern Observatory (SSO) consists out of four telescopes, called Europa, Io, Callisto, and Ganymede. ESO hosts the 1-meter telescopes and the project is led by the [[University of Liège]]. The project aims to find [[Exoplanet|exoplanets]] around [[Ultra-cool dwarf|ultracool dwarf]] stars and [[Brown dwarf|brown dwarfs]]. The project builds on the success of the [[TRAPPIST]] telescope. The telescopes are located next to the NGTS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eso.org/public/images/safety-paranal/|title=Paranal map and safety|last=|website=eso.org|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref>

== Other buildings ==
{{further|ESO Hotel}}

As well as the telescopes, control buildings and maintenance facilities, Paranal has a [[ESO Residencia|Residencia]] which provides accommodation for staff and visitors. This is located 200&nbsp;m lower and 3&nbsp;km from the telescopes. It is built half into the mountain with the concrete coloured to blend into the landscape. It has gym facilities, a swimming pool, a restaurant and two gardens. The construction was decorated by the Chilean [[architect]] Paula Gutiérrez Erlandsen, [[Marquis of la Pica|Marchioness of la Pica]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paulagutierrez.com/proyectos_hoteles.php |work=Paula Gutiérrez Erlandsen |title=Proyectos—Hoteles |access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
{{excessive gallery|date=April 2025}}
<gallery class="center" mode="packed" heights="150px">
Image:From a Dirt Track to the World's Leading Observatory.jpg|Main entrance of the Paranal Observatory
File:360-degree Panorama of the Southern Sky edit.jpg|A 360-degree panorama of the southern sky above the Paranal platform
Image:Wallpaper of Paranal and the Basecamp.jpg|The [[ESO Residencia]] (center left) and basecamp at Paranal
Image:Very Large Telescope Array.aerial view.jpg|Aerial view
Image:Paranal platform.jpg|Paranal platform with the VLTs, the ATs and [[VLT Survey Telescope|VST]]
File:The Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) at Paranal.jpg|The [[Next-Generation Transit Survey|NGTS]] with the [[Very Large Telescope|VLT]] and [[VISTA (telescope)|VISTA]] (background)
Image:Paranal Platform as Night Sets In .jpg|The platform as night sets
Image:Laser Towards Milky Ways Centre.jpg|Beam of the [[laser guide star]] facility at VLT's  Yepun Unit
File:Paranal Time-lapse 2012(2f).ogg|Time-lapse taken at Paranal, showing the [[Magellanic Clouds]]
File:Full tour of ESO's Paranal Observatory in miniature.webm|Full tour of the facility in [[LEGO]] form 
File:Paranal Observatory Compilation 2017.webm|This collection of video clips shows daily life at the observatory.
File:Tour the Skies - potw2004a.jpg|Tour the Skies<ref>{{cite web |title=Tour the Skies |url=https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2004a/ |website=eso.org |access-date=27 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
File:Colour in the air - Potw2007a.jpg|Colour in the air<ref>{{cite web |title=Colour in the air |url=https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2007a/ |website=eso.org |access-date=11 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
File:SPECULOOS Observatory eso1839a.jpg|Three of the [[SPECULOOS]] telescopes
</gallery>

== Popular culture and other uses ==

To illustrate the isolation of the Paranal Observatory from the lights of civilization, it is located {{convert|38|km|mi}} in straight-line distance north of [[Paposo]], population 259, the nearest community to the observatory.<ref>Google Earth</ref>

The VLT hotel, the Residencia, served as a backdrop for part of the 2008 James Bond film ''[[Quantum of Solace]]''.

The observatory's facilities were used to stage the [[Pacific Alliance]]'s fourth summit in June 2012, formally launching the organization.

On 14 March 2013, [[Frederik X|Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark]], accompanied by his wife, [[Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark|Princess Mary]], visited ESO's Paranal Observatory, as part of an official visit to Chile. Their tour of Paranal's astronomical facilities was led by ESO's Director General, Tim de Zeeuw.

{{multiple image
 |direction = horizontal
 |align= center
 |width1= 225
 |width2= 225
 |image1=The visit of the Prince and Princess of Asturias to ESO's Paranal Observatory.ogv
 |image2=The Crown Prince Couple of Denmark during their visit to ESO.ogg
 |caption1=The visit of the [[Felipe, Prince of Asturias|Prince]] and [[Letizia, Princess of Asturias|Princess of Asturias]] to the observatory
 |caption2=[[Frederik X|The Crown Prince of Denmark]] visits the observatory.
}}
{{clear}}

== See also ==
{{Commons category|Paranal Observatory}}
* [[Very Large Telescope]]
* [[List of largest optical reflecting telescopes]]
* [[List of astronomical observatories]]
* [[List of highest astronomical observatories]]
* Other observatories in Chile:
** [[Llano de Chajnantor Observatory]] 
***[[Atacama Large Millimeter Array]]
** [[Cerro Armazones Observatory]]
*** [[Extremely Large Telescope]]
** [[La Silla Observatory]]
** [[Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory]]
* [[European Northern Observatory]]
* [[VVV Survey]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.eso.org European Southern Observatory homepage]
*[https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/ Paranal Observatory homepage]
*[https://www.eso.org/public/about-eso/visitors/paranal/ Visits to the Paranal Observatory]
* {{APOD |date=4 November 2006 |title=Paranal Moonset}}
* [https://www.atacamaphoto.com/paranal-observatory/ Photo gallery of ESO Paranal Observatory]

{{Astronomical observatories in Chile}}
{{European Southern Observatory}}
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[[Category:Astronomical observatories in Chile]]
[[Category:Atacama Desert]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Antofagasta Region]]
[[Category:European Southern Observatory]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]