[Miss Marple]

Does anyone besides me find the name VLT (Very Large Telescope) amusing? It's sort of self-evident, yet understated.

It is sort of like calling an aircraft carrier a Very Big Ship.

[blam]

"Does anyone besides me find the name VLT (Very Large Telescope) amusing? It's sort of self-evident, yet understated. "

It's used to distinguish from the VLA (Very Large Array) shown below, which are radio telescopes.

[The FRugitive]

[quote]Does anyone besides me find the name VLT (Very Large Telescope) amusing? [/quote]

It's one in a series. Previous was the FLT (Fairly Large Telescope) which was presceded by the NRTLT (Not Really That Lage Telescope).

Next in the series is the BFT. ;)

[Hacksaw]

Does anyone besides me find the name VLT (Very Large Telescope) amusing? It's sort of self-evident, yet understated.

That is standard for govt. work. When I was in engineer school at Ft. Leonard Wood, one of the instructors was talking about BFR's. When asked what a BFR was, he replied "Big F*cking Rock".

[Congressman Billybob]

The same is true of the name "Bolshoi Ballet." All it means is "Big Ballet." Recall that the Bolshevics were called that because they claimed to be a "majority" though they were never close to that. It was a double pun for me to refer to Li'l Tommy Daschle as the Bolshevic (excuse me, majority) Leader of the Senate.

Fabulous picture of Uranus, BTW.

Congressman Billybob

Click for latest column on UPI, "Incision Decision in the Senate" (Not yet on UPI wire, or FR.)

As the politician formerly known as Al Gore has said, Buy my book, "to Restore Trust in America"

[Bella_Bru]

Me too! I was wondering if VLT was an actual term.