VISTA: the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy

VISTA, the world���s largest survey telescope, is shown in its dome at ESO���s observatory on Cerro Paranal in the deserts of northern Chile. VISTA is an infrared survey telescope and is the world���s largest telescope dedicated to mapping the sky. The telescope���s large mirror, wide field of view and very sensitive camera will reveal a completely new view of the southern sky. VISTA was conceived and developed by a consortium of 18 universities in the United Kingdom led by Queen Mary, University of London and became an in-kind contribution to ESO as part of the UK���s accession agreement.