Telescopes & Observatories Glossary

I. What is the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT)? The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) is a world-renowned astronomical observatory located atop the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It is a joint project between Canada, France, and the University of Hawaii, with each partner contributing both financially and scientifically to the operation of the telescope. The CFHT is … Read more

I. What is the Pierre Auger Observatory? The Pierre Auger Observatory is the world’s largest cosmic ray observatory, located in Malargüe, Argentina. It is named after the French physicist Pierre Auger, who made significant contributions to the study of cosmic rays. The observatory was established in 2004 and is operated by an international collaboration of … Read more

What is the South Pole Telescope (SPT)? The South Pole Telescope (SPT) is a state-of-the-art telescope located at the geographic South Pole in Antarctica. It is a collaboration between several institutions, including the University of Chicago, the University of California, Berkeley, and the National Science Foundation. The telescope was built to study the cosmic microwave … Read more

I. What is MAGIC? MAGIC, which stands for Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov, is a system of two ground-based gamma-ray telescopes located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the Canary Island of La Palma. These telescopes are designed to detect very high-energy gamma rays, which are the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation … Read more

I. What is the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT)? The European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) is a revolutionary ground-based telescope currently under construction by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Once completed, it will be the world’s largest optical and infrared telescope, with a primary mirror measuring a staggering 39 meters in diameter. The E-ELT is … Read more

I. What is the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope? The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) is a cutting-edge solar observatory located on the summit of Haleakalā on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Named after the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye, the telescope is the largest solar telescope in the world and is operated by … Read more

What is the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)? The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a next-generation astronomical observatory that is currently under construction on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Once completed, the TMT will be one of the largest and most advanced telescopes in the world, with a primary mirror that measures 30 meters in diameter. The … Read more

I. What is the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO)? The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) is a cutting-edge cosmic ray observatory located in Daocheng, Sichuan Province, China. It is one of the largest and most advanced observatories in the world dedicated to the study of high-energy cosmic rays. The LHAASO project … Read more

I. What is TRACE? The Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) is a NASA spacecraft that was launched in 1998 with the primary goal of studying the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. The corona is the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, extending millions of kilometers into space and reaching temperatures of over … Read more

I. What is the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE)? The Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) is a radio telescope located in the Atacama Desert in Chile. It is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and has been in operation since 2000. The ASTE is designed to observe the universe at submillimeter wavelengths, which … Read more