VISTA Telescope Begins Science Mission

The Atacama Desert, Chile-based Paranal Observatory, one of the largest the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has, just received a new telescope, the VISTA. Short for Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy, the instrument is a four-meter class, wide-field observatory, and it is currently located on a peak adjacent to the one where ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) is located. According to astronomers operating the new observation device, VISTA's mirror is the most curved one of this size and quality ever created.

Built by a consortium of United Kingdom universities, and passed on to ESO just this month, the telescope's mirrors exhibit only trace deviations from a perfect surface. It is estimated that the mirrors are precise at the nanometer range, and experts say that their construction and polishing process required great effort, as well as the implementation of some new technology. Queen Mary, University of London was the primary institution leading the 18-large group that developed VISTA.

“VISTA is a unique addition to ESO's observatory on Cerro Paranal. It will play a pioneering role in surveying the southern sky at infrared wavelengths and will find many interesting targets for further study by the Very Large Telescope, ALMA and the future European Extremely Large Telescope,” the ESO Director General, Tim de Zeeuw, says of the new addition. He adds that 16 special detectors sensitive to infrared wavelengths power up the three-tonne camera that is located at the very heart of the new observatory. The instrument needs to be cooled to -200 degrees Celsius, and encased in the largest infrared-transparent window ever created, ESO officials say.

“We're delighted to have been able to provide the astronomical community with the VISTA telescope. The exceptional quality of the scientific data is a tribute to all the scientists and engineers who were involved in this exciting and challenging project,” Ian Robson, head of the UK ATC, adds. “History has shown us some of the most exciting results that come out of projects like VISTA are the ones you least expect – and I'm personally very excited to see what these will be!” Queen Mary, University of London expert Jim Emerson, who is also in the VISTA consortium, concludes.