This is the "back end" of the interferometer, where light from both telescopes is tracked and combined. It is carefully protected from dust and air currents that can distort the light beams.

Read the transcription from the related video: "Making Stars Disappear"

The following are descriptions of locations in the panoramic image.

Location 1 - Optical table
These half-ton steel tables are used to mount lenses, mirrors and other equipment used in combining light. The tables are composed of sturdy, heavy materials to help ensure precise alignment.

Location 2 - Ceiling
The Combining Lab is enclosed in a transparent structure that allows for temperature and airflow control and protects sensitive equipment from dust or other contaminants.

Location 3 - Fringe Tracker
This instrument, called FATCAT, detects the interference pattern of starlight after it is combined. This pattern, called a fringe, can tell astronomers a wealth of information about the target, including its mass, shape and distance.

FAT CAT = Fringe Acquisition Tracking Camera At Two microns

Location 4 - Starlight nuller
This instrument is used to suppress the bright light of stars in order to reveal the close-in regions where planets may have formed. The light from the two telescopes, focused on the same star, is combined in this instrument, where it can be "tuned out" at certain wavelengths.