ESA: Yepun, one of the Unit Telescopes of ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT)

Yepun (UT4), one of the Unit Telescopes of ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) stands beneath bright star trails appearing to circle the south celestial pole, lying in the southern constellation of Octans (The Octant). 

Many exposures were taken over time and combined to give the final appearance of circular tracks.

Four Unit Telescopes (UTs) make up the VLT at Paranal, Chile.

Each UT possesses a name in the language of the native Mapuche tribe.

The names of the UTs — Antu, Kueyen, Melipal, and Yepun — represent celestial objects: the sun, moon, the Southern Cross constellation and Venus, respectively.

The UT in this photograph is Yepun, also known as UT4. Image released Jan. 7, 2013.One of the Unit Telescopes of ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) stands beneath bright star trails appearing to circle the south celestial pole, lying in the southern constellation of Octans (The Octant).

Many exposures were taken over time and combined to give the final appearance of circular tracks. Four Unit Telescopes (UTs) make up the VLT at Paranal, Chile. Each UT possesses a name in the language of the native Mapuche tribe.

The names of the UTs — Antu, Kueyen, Melipal, and Yepun — represent celestial objects: the sun, moon, the Southern Cross constellation and Venus, respectively.