Primary mirror

The 8.2m diameter primary mirror of VLT UT2 seen through the secondarymirror support while the telescope is pointed towards the horizon forsafety reason during the opening of the dome at sunset. All around themirror, part of the actuators of the active optic system, whichdeforms the mirror to keep it in the correct shape regardless oforientation. On the left and the right in the mount structure, the tworectangular "plates" are the protections of the shutters of the twoNasmyth foci. At the lower right border of the primary one can seereflected the 1.8m secondary mirror (which was in fact at my leftabove my head while taking the photo), which again reflects into theCassegrain focus (the black hood in the center of the primary) or tothe two Nasmyth, through a deviating flat mirror (visible above thecassegrain hood).

Thank you for comments and critiques! L.

Awesome world you deal with ! Congratulations, best regards from Argentina.

Thanks a lot! but you know... it is not always this fun. Most of the time (e.g. now) you are in an office in front of a computer, trying to get things done by the next deadline... for sure, there are the high moments!

L.