Explanation:
Very bright planets and very
large telescopes
are part of this sunset view of
Paranal Observatory.
The observatory's four, massive 8.2 meter telescope units
are situated on top of the 2,600 meter high mountain,
Cerro Paranal,
in the dry Atacama Desert in northern Chile.
The individual unit telescopes can be used separately or in
combination and
are named Antu, Kueyen, Melipal, and
Yepun.
Together they are fittingly known as the European Southern
Observatory's Very Large Telescope.
Of course, the very bright planets are Venus (near center), joined by
Mercury (below) and Saturn (left) in late June's western
evening skies.
