Amazing Space Views of ESO's Very Large Telescope (Photos)

Rose Red Stars

The star cluster NGC 371 appears in this new image from ESO’s Very Large Telescope.

Carina Nebula Imaged by the VLT Survey Telescope

The spectacular star-forming Carina Nebula has been captured in great detail by the VLT Survey Telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory. This picture was taken with the help of Sebastián Piñera, President of Chile, during his visit to the observatory on June 5, 2012 and released on the occasion of the new telescope's inauguration in Naples on Dec. 6, 2012.

Planetary Nebula Fleming 1

This ESO Very Large Telescope image shows the planetary nebula Fleming 1 in the constellation of Centaurus (The Centaur). New observations suggest that a very rare pair of white dwarf stars lies at the heart of this object, with their orbital motions explaining the nebula's remarkably symmetric jet structures. Image released Nov. 8, 2012.

Sharpening Up Jupiter

Amazing image of Jupiter taken in infrared light on the night of Aug. 17, 2008 with the Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics Demonstrator (MAD) prototype instrument mounted on ESO's Very Large Telescope.

Spectrum of a Large Exoplanet

This spectrum of a large exoplanet, about 130 light years away from Earth, was taken using ESO's Very Large Telescope.

Cosmic Jewel Box Photographed in Detail

The FORS1 instrument on the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) at ESO’s Paranal Observatory was used to take this exquisitely sharp close up view of the colourful Jewel Box cluster, NGC 4755. The telescope’s huge mirror allowed very short exposure times.