Spectacular Cosmic Visions from ESO's Paranal Observatory (Gallery)

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Don't It Make My Green Flash Blue

Guillaume Blanchard

A blue flash of the sun appears more rarely than the green flash optical phenomenon. This image was taken from the Paranal Residencia. The intense blue, with purple edges, prove the phenomenon is real, not an optical illusion.

It's Only a Glass Moon

ESO/G.Hüdepohl

The Moon normally appears too large and bright for the sensitive 8.2-metre Unit Telescopes that make up ESO’s Very Large Telescope. However, in 2002, the Moon's image was projected onto a sandblasted glass plate for the astronomers and engineers.

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Space.com Staff
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