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The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is an astronomical facility operated by the European Southern Observatory, located on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. It consists of four individual optical telescopes, each equipped with a primary mirror measuring 8.2 metres (27 feet) in diameter, which are generally used separately but can be combined to achieve a very high angular resolution. The VLT array is complemented by four movable auxiliary telescopes with 1.8-metre (5.9-feet) apertures, and the VLT Survey Telescope (at right in the photograph). This photograph, taken at sunset in 2015, shows the VLT and its associated telescopes and supporting buildings.Photograph credit: ESO / Gerhard Hüdepohl; retouched by Huntster

See also