VLT Unit Telescope 2

VLT Unit Telescope 2 (UT2) in its enclosure during integration. In the foreground is one of the Nasmyth Adaptor-Rotators through which the precious light of celestial objects collected by the telescope reaches the astronomical instruments on the adjacent Nasmyth platform. At the time this photo was taken, the cell that carries the 8.2-m Zerodur mirror was about to be mounted. "First light" to be expected in March 1999.