Figure: Mirror transport

Figure: On the last stretch of road - just before the gate at the base camp. The VLT enclosures at the top of Paranal are well visible in the background. (Photo obtained on December 9, 1997).

High-resolution Images from the M1 Transport

The present collection of twelve high-resolution photographic images illustrates the transport of the first VLT 8.2-m Zerodur mirror (M1) to Paranal. They are suitable for high-quality reproduction and complement the digital, less detailed previous ESO Press Photos.

These photos form part of a series obtained with a 6x6 cm Hasselblad camera by one of the professional photographers of the ESO EPR team that accompanied the convoy. The films were shipped to ESO-Garching for development and preparation for this presentation on the web. They have been selected with the specific purpose of providing editors with a choice of different views.

The cover of the Transport Box with the 8.2-m mirror was removed yesterday evening (Thursday, December 18, 1997). During a careful inspection of the complete mirror surface, no damage was detected.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

http://www.eso.org/esopia/images/html/phot-35j-97.html