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| The '''Very Large Telescope''' is an optical ] currently under construction. | The '''Very Large Telescope''' ('''VLT''') is an optical ] currently under construction. The VLT is a project of the ] organization. | ||
| It will be located at the ] on ], a 2,635-m high mountain in the ] in northern ]. | It will be located at the ] on ], a 2,635-m high mountain in the ] in northern ]. | ||
| The VLT consists of a cluster of large telescopes, some of which are already in operation, with a central ] which will be used to resolve fine features. | |||
| In its full interferometric operating mode, the VLT is intended to achieve an effective angular resolution of 0.001 ] at a wavelength of 1 µm. This is an angle of 0.000000005 radians, equivalent to resolving a target 2 meters across at the distance between the Earth and Moon. | In its full interferometric operating mode, the VLT is intended to achieve an effective angular resolution of 0.001 ] at a wavelength of 1 µm. This is an angle of 0.000000005 radians, equivalent to resolving a target 2 meters across at the distance between the Earth and Moon. | ||
Revision as of 09:03, 28 November 2002
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is an optical telescope currently under construction. The VLT is a project of the European Southern Observatory organization.
It will be located at the Paranal Observatory on Cerro Paranal, a 2,635-m high mountain in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile.
The VLT consists of a cluster of large telescopes, some of which are already in operation, with a central interferometer which will be used to resolve fine features.
In its full interferometric operating mode, the VLT is intended to achieve an effective angular resolution of 0.001 arcsecond at a wavelength of 1 µm. This is an angle of 0.000000005 radians, equivalent to resolving a target 2 meters across at the distance between the Earth and Moon.
This should easily resolve the 5-metre wide Lunar Module bases left on the Moon by the Apollo moon missions, and a group of European scientists intends to do just that.