Front-Row Seats to Star’s Death by Spaghettification
Astronomers have captured the last moments of a star just before it was ripped apart by a black hole. The violent occurrence—called a tidal disruption…
Very Large Telescope
Find the latest astronomy and astrophysics news out of the ESO VLT on SciTechDaily.com. Operated by the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, the Very Large Telescope array (VLT) is a visible and infrared wavelength telescope facility. It is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter and four movable 1.8m diameter Auxiliary Telescopes. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal, and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer,’ the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes.
Galaxies Trapped in the Web of a Supermassive Black Hole – Cosmic “Spider’s Web” of Gas Extends Over 300 Times the Size of the Milky Way
With the help of ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have found six galaxies lying around a supermassive black hole when the Universe was less…
A Warped Disc “Torn Apart by Stars” Discovered in a Triple Tatooine-Like System
Pioneering new research has revealed the first direct evidence that groups of stars can tear apart their planet-forming disc, leaving it warped and with tilted…
Planet-Forming Disc Ripped Apart by Its Three Central Stars – Leaving It Warped and With Tilted Rings
A team of astronomers have identified the first direct evidence that groups of stars can tear apart their planet-forming disc, leaving it warped and with…
Stunning Shimmering Space Butterfly Captured by Very Large Telescope
Resembling a butterfly with its symmetrical structure, beautiful colors, and intricate patterns, this striking bubble of gas — known as NGC 2899 — appears to…
VLT Telescope Captures First-Ever Image of a Multi-Planet System around a Sun-like Star
The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) has taken the first-ever image of a young, Sun-like star accompanied by two giant exoplanets. Images…
A Cosmic Mystery: Disappearance of a Massive Star Surprises Astronomers
Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have discovered the absence of an unstable massive star in a dwarf galaxy. Scientists think…
ESO Telescope Sees Telltale Signs of a Baby Planet Coming Into Existence
The Twist Marks the Spot – ESO Telescope Sees Signs of Planet Birth Observations made with the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT)…
Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity Proven Right Again by Star Orbiting Supermassive Black Hole
Observations made with ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have revealed for the first time that a star orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center…
Observed: Giant, Ultra-Hot Planet WASP-76b Where It Rains Iron
Nature magazine is published a surprising study about the giant, ultra-hot planet WASP-76b in which researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) have…
Very Large Telescope Observes Extreme Exoplanet Where It Rains Molten Iron
Researchers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have observed an extreme planet where they suspect it rains iron. The ultra-hot giant exoplanet has a dayside…
Ancient Star Burst Discovered in Stunning New Milky Way Images From ESO Telescope [Video]
ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) has observed the central part of the Milky Way with spectacular resolution and uncovered new details about the history of…
Galaxy’s Tranquil Halo Illuminated by Enigmatic Radio Burst [Video]
Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope have for the first time observed that a fast radio burst passed through a galactic halo. Lasting less than…
VLT Captures Glimpse of Ethereal Nebula Hidden in Orion Constellation
Hidden in one of the darkest corners of the Orion constellation, this Cosmic Bat is spreading its hazy wings through interstellar space two thousand light-years…
Astronomers Capture Dramatic Details of Turbulent Stellar Relationship
While testing a new subsystem on the SPHERE planet-hunting instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, astronomers were able to capture dramatic details of the turbulent…
ESO’s Very Large Telescope Captures Amazing Image of the Skull and Crossbones Nebula
FORS2, an instrument mounted on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, has observed the active star-forming region NGC 2467 — sometimes referred to as the Skull and…
Elliptical Elegance – ESO Views Elliptical Galaxy NGC 5018
A glittering host of galaxies populate this rich image taken with ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope, a state-of-the-art 2.6-m telescope designed for surveying the sky in…
ESO’s VLT Captures Remarkably Sharp Test Images of Neptune
ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) has achieved first light with a new adaptive optics mode called laser tomography — and has captured remarkably sharp test…