Martian-like Landscape of La Silla
This panoramic image, taken by ESO Photo Ambassador Alexandre Santerne reveals a somewhat Martian-looking landscape.
This dry, red scene could well be taken to be on another world, but is actually the site of the La Silla Observatory, 2400 metres above sea level, on the outskirts of the southern part of the Atacama Desert in Chile — and ESO’s first observing site.
With more than 300 clear nights per year, low atmospheric turbulence and dry conditions, La Silla offers some of the very best conditions for ground-based observational astronomy.
For many years it was one of the most scientifically productive observatories in the world, and today still makes a significant contribution each year.
Credit:
ESO/A. Santerne
http://www.astro.up.pt/caup/index.php?WID=114&CID=1&ID=177
More information about Landscape of La Silla
http://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1546a
Music with thanks to
Snakecharm "Maze" "Natural shift"
http://freemusicarchive.org
.
Comments