1999A&A...343L...1G

Science Verification observations with the VLT Unit Telescope No. 1 have provided the first publicly available scientific data from the VLT. This paper describes the preparation, observations, and reductions of the imaging data obtained during this Science Verification phase. Also given is a description of the status of the telescope at the time of the observations and of the instrument, the VLT Test Camera. The reductions procedures to which the data have been submitted are outlined. Data analyses and their astrophysical interpretations are presented in other papers in this issue.