The Canary Islands are home to a groundbreaking scientific project poised to revolutionise our understanding of the universe through gamma rays: the construction of the Cherenkov Telescope, a pivotal element of the future Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA).
This project marks a significant milestone in modern astrophysics, solidifying La Palma's status as a global leader in astronomical observation.
The parabolic mirror structure of the new Large-Sized Telescope (LST-4) has now been installed, while construction of LST-2 and LST-3 is ongoing. The completion and assembly of these telescopes are expected by early 2026.
The latest update comes from the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics (IAC), which has announced the tender for the design of the operations building for the Cherenkov Telescope at the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory.
The Cherenkov Telescope is part of an international project that brings together over 1,500 scientists and technicians from 31 countries. La Palma was selected as one of the two primary northern hemisphere sites for this sophisticated equipment due to its exceptional night sky quality, minimal light pollution, and ideal atmospheric conditions for observing high-energy wavelengths of the universe.
The CTA is designed to detect high-energy gamma rays, the most energetic light particles known, which originate from some of the universe's most violent events, such as supernovae, active black holes, and neutron star collisions.
These gamma rays, undetectable by conventional optical telescopes, produce a bluish flash of light known as Cherenkov radiation when they interact with Earth's atmosphere. The new telescope is set to capture this radiation, allowing scientists to study extreme cosmic phenomena with unprecedented detail.
The telescope's infrastructure includes a large base supporting a highly precise system of parabolic mirrors designed to capture gamma-ray light. The construction process has faced several challenges, from the logistics of transporting materials to the island's summit to the integration of cutting-edge technology in a protected natural environment.
The first telescope of the CTA on La Palma, known as LST-1 (Large-Sized Telescope 1), began preliminary operations on October 10th, 2018. This initial activation marked the start of a testing and adjustment period necessary before the telescope could become fully operational.
