Live Webcams
Web cameras have been placed at many of the ESO sites, allowing anyone to see ESO’s advanced telescopes in action in one of the driest deserts in the world at any time. The 24/7 live transmission from the webcams offers multiple streams that are not to be missed:
- Paranal Observatory, Very Large Telescope and the future site of the Extremely Large Telescope, ELT (Cerro Paranal and Cerro Armazones, Chile): Follow astronomers and engineers as they work at the VLT — the largest visible-light telescope in the world — and see how the four Unit Telescopes are operated or maintained. The Paranal Web Cam is an Apical NEOS360.
- The construction site of the Extremely Large Telescope, ELT (Cerro Armazones, Chile): Follow the construction of the ELT — the future largest visible-infrared telescope in the world — and see its progress.
- ALMA Observatory (Chajnantor Plateau, Chile): Spot the ALMA antennas as they are being operated by ESO and partners. The camera looks at the Chajnantor Plateau at the Operations Support Facilities near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
- APEX (Chajnantor Plateau, Chile): Watch the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) telescope at an elevation of 5100 metres, at one of the highest observatory sites on Earth.
- La Silla Night Cam: Admire breathtaking night views of the Milky Way from the La Silla Observatory.
- Rapid Eye Mount (REM) telescope: Four webcams monitor REM at ESO's La Silla Observatory.
- Danish 1.54-metre telescope: All-sky camera at ESO's La Silla Observatory.
Feel free to embed these webcam images on other web pages: just use the URL of the product.
Views from the VLT
The images are produced with a NEOS360 camera by Apical Technologies.
Interactive View
LIVE
The webcam offers high-resolution views of the Very Large Telescope
observing platform. You can zoom in the Unit Telescopes, Auxiliary
Telescopes, the VLT Survey Telescope (VST), Cerro Armazones (home of the
ELT) and even the distant volcano Llullaillaco (at an amazing distance
of 190 km from Paranal). Note that the Moon at times can be so bright that night almost looks like day.
Static panorama image
LIVE
This is how the VLT at Cerro Paranal in Chile looks like now
Static Points of Interest
LIVE
Cerro Armazones, home of the future ELT. Note the construction work that is ongoing there. Also note that the Sun rises right behind Armazones as seen from VLT at certain times of the year.
LIVE
VST
LIVE
K0 station LIVE. Here you may be able to see one of the ATs. On extremely clear days the magnificent 6739-metre
volcano Llullaillaco is visible in the background of this photograph. It is an amazing 190 kilometres away on the border with Argentina.
LIVE
A1 station. Here you may be able to see one of the ATs.
LIVE
G1 station. Here you may be able to see one of the ATs.
LIVE
MELIPAL, also known as UT3
LIVE
On extremely clear days the magnificent 6739-metre volcano Llullaillaco is visible in the background of this photograph. It is an amazing 190 kilometres away on the border with Argentina.
LIVE
Circular fisheye
LIVE
Extra deep night-time circular fisheye. NB: only live at night.
Views from the ELT (West camera)
The images are produced with a NEOS360 camera by Apical Technologies.
Interactive View
LIVE
This interactive, 360-degree webcam offers high-resolution views of the top platform of Cerro Armazones, where ESO’s ELT is being built. To the west, you can see the ELT base camp downhill and the Armazones access road. Next to the right on the horizon, the highest peak is Cerro Paranal (home of ESO’s VLT). To the east, the volcano Llullaillaco (170 km east of Armazones) can usually be seen in the distance.
Static panorama image
LIVE
Static Points of Interest
LIVE
Cerro Paranal, home of the VLT. Note that the Sun sets right behind Paranal as seen from Armazones at certain times of the year.
LIVE
The 6739-metre volcano Llullaillaco located 170km away from Cerro Armazones.
LIVE
The ELT Basecamp, 320m down-hill, where the construction staff is lodging.
LIVE
Stargazing from Armazones.
Views from the ELT (East camera)
The images are produced with a NEOS360 camera by Apical Technologies.
Interactive View
LIVE
This interactive, 360-degree webcam also offers high-resolution views of the top platform of Cerro Armazones, where ESO’s ELT is being built. The view point is different from the west camera but, by interacting with the image, you can see all around the platform.
Static panorama image
LIVE
Views from the ELT Dome Camera
The images are produced with a NEOS360 camera by Apical Technologies.
Interactive View
LIVE
This interactive, 360-degree webcam offers high-resolution views from inside the dome of ESO’s ELT as it is being constructed. From this perspective the construction of the telescope pier and mechanical structure can be observed.
Static panorama image
LIVE
Views from ALMA
Live view from Chajnantor
Live view of the central cluster of antennas of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). We call this part of the observatory, located 5,000 meters above sea level on the Chajnantor Plateau: the Array Operations Site (AOS).
Interactive View
The images below are produced with a NEOS360 camera by Apical Technologies.
Static panorama image
This is how the Chajnantor plateau in Chile looks like now
Static Points of Interest
ALMA AOS Control Building.
Licancabur seen from the Chajnantor Plateau.
APEX.
ALMA Antennas.
Chajnantor Plateau.
ALMA Antennas.
Here you may be able to see one antenna.
Here you may be able to see another antenna.
Circular 4k fisheye image for planetarium use.
APEXcam LIVE
APEXCam LIVE.
La Silla Night Cam
REM webcams at La Silla
The webcam images of the Rapid Eye Mount (REM) telescope are maintained by INAF. Click on the previews to see the most recent images. Please note that during night time these images will be completely dark.
REM from control room side
REM from workshop side
REM from North dome wall
REM outdoor looking North
Danish 1.54-metre telescope
All Sky camera near the Danish 1.54-metre telescope at La Silla. More information on this link