Made in 1962 to give state-of-the-art facilities and a view the Southern Sky to European astronomers , it is well known for using some of the largest and most advanced telescopes in the world , such as the New Technology Telescope ( NTT ) , the telescope that helped create active optics technology , and the VLT ( Very Large Telescope ) , made of four 8-meter class telescopes and four 1.8-m Auxiliary Telescopes . Established in 1962 with an objective to provide state-of-the-art facilities and access to the Southern Sky to European astronomers , it is famous for building and operating some of the largest and most technologically advanced telescopes in the world , such as the New Technology Telescope ( NTT ) , the telescope that pioneered active optics technology , and the Very Large Telescope ( VLT ) , consisting of four 8-meter class telescopes and four 1.8-m Auxiliary Telescopes .