The Milky
Way shines above the Paranal Residencia that houses astronomers studying at the
European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope in Chile.
ESO
astronomer Yuri Beletsky snapped this photo of the morning sky to capture the
Milky Way's dark dust lanes and bright nebulae. The Zodiacal light of sunlight
reflected by interplanetary dust is visible in the band of light that is
inclined relative to the Milky Way by 40-50 degrees. Such light is only visible
in places free from light pollution, such as the Paranal Observatory.
The
high-altitude site and extreme dryness provide excellent observing conditions
for astronomers, who may then escape to the Paranal Residencia for more
comfortable surroundings. The building's unique design has even attracted
filmmakers making the new James
Bond film.
— ESO and SPACE.com Staff
Credit: Yuri Beletsky (ESO)
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