Paranal Observatory
Antofagasta
Paranal Observatory, operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), is situated at 2,635 meters altitude on Cerro Paranal in Chile's Atacama Desert. It is the largest optical-infrared observatory in the Southern Hemisphere and second largest worldwide by light-collecting area. The facility hosts the Very Large Telescope (VLT), consisting of four 8.2-meter telescopes capable of individual or combined interferometric observations, along with four 1.8-meter auxiliary telescopes. Paranal also includes the 4.0-meter VISTA and 2.6-meter VLT Survey Telescope for wide-field sky surveys. Additionally, arrays like NGTS and SPECULOOS focus on exoplanet detection. The observatory features a unique mountain-embedded Residencia for staff and visitors, blending architecture with the landscape and offering amenities such as a gym, pool, restaurant, and gardens. Paranal is a flagship for European ground-based astronomy and is poised to support the future Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) nearby. The site combines cutting-edge technology, scientific importance, and striking desert surroundings, making it a remarkable destination for astronomy enthusiasts and researchers alike.
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Tip: Visitors should plan their trips during clear, dry months to maximize viewing conditions. Advance booking is recommended for tours, which are limited and guided. While the observatory is primarily a research facility, public visits are possible through organized tours. Discounts may be available for students and educational groups. Visitors should prepare for high-altitude conditions and bring appropriate sun protection due to the desert environment.
Interesting facts
- •Paranal Observatory hosts the Very Large Telescope, which can operate four 8.2-meter telescopes individually or combined as an interferometer.
- •The four main VLT telescopes are named Antú (Sun), Küyén (Moon), Melipal (Southern Cross), and Yepún (Venus) after Mapuche words.
- •The Residencia accommodation is built partially into the mountain and camouflaged to blend with the desert landscape.
- •Paranal was a filming location for the James Bond movie 'Quantum of Solace' in 2008.
- •The site operates additional telescopes focused on exoplanet discovery, such as NGTS and SPECULOOS.
- •Paranal is located about 120 km south of Antofagasta, at an altitude of 2,635 meters in one of the driest deserts on Earth.
History
The Chilean government donated 72,500 hectares to ESO in 1988 for the observatory's construction.
Paranal Observatory was symbolically inaugurated in 1996 by Chilean President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
The first telescope, Antú, began operation in 1998, followed by Küyén in 2000, and Yepún and Melipal in 2001.
Despite a temporary legal halt in 1995, construction continued under diplomatic immunity.
Over time, the observatory expanded to include auxiliary telescopes and survey instruments, establishing itself as a premier astronomical site in the Southern Hemisphere.
Place Guide
Very Large Telescope (VLT)1998-2001
The VLT comprises four 8.2-meter telescopes capable of individual observations or combined interferometry, equipped with adaptive optics and advanced instruments for visible and infrared astronomy.
VISTA Survey Telescope2009
A 4.0-meter wide-field infrared survey telescope near the VLT, designed for large-scale sky surveys and operated by ESO since 2009.
VLT Survey Telescope (VST)2000s
A 2.6-meter wide-field telescope supporting VLT scientific goals by surveying large sky regions with a wide-field imager.
Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS)2015
An array of twelve 0.2-meter robotic telescopes dedicated to detecting exoplanets around nearby stars using transit photometry.
SPECULOOS Southern Observatory (SSO)2010s
A set of four 1-meter telescopes focused on finding exoplanets orbiting ultracool dwarf stars and brown dwarfs, building on the success of the TRAPPIST project.
Residencia Accommodation1990s
A mountain-embedded facility providing lodging, gym, pool, restaurant, and gardens for staff and visitors, designed to blend into the desert environment.
