The first images have been revealed from a telescope that can map the sky much faster and deeper than any other. The Vista (Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy) is dedicated to mapping the sky in infrared light. Spectacular images, including some of the centre of our Milky Way, show, astronomers say, that the UK-designed telescope is working "extremely well". It is based at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Paranal Observatory in Chile. When the UK was first negotiating to join ESO, Vista became an in-kind payment towards its subscription.

It was formally handed over to ESO at a ceremony in Garching, Germany on 10 December 2009. Now that the telescope is up and running, its surveys will help astronomers to understand the nature and origin of stars and galaxies. Professor Jim Emerson from Queen Mary, University of London led a consortium of 18 UK universities that conceived and developed Vista. He said he was looking forward to a rich harvest of science from the new telescope and told BBC News that Vista could be "all things to all astronomers".

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