VERITAS : First Light Celebration
April 30th, 2007
VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) is a new ground-based gamma-ray observatory with an array of four 12m optical reflectors for gamma-ray astronomy in the GeV - TeV energy range . It consists of an array of imaging telescopes deployed such that they permit the maximum versatility and give the highest sensitivity in the 50 GeV - 50 TeV band (with maximum sensitivity from 100 GeV to 10 TeV).
After several years of upgrade/installation VERITAS will see its first light.
Love this picture of dancing and music in front of the detector! I was in that area earlier this month, I should have tried harder to go there.
I think of new detectors as an extension of my contact lenses; VERITAS is like getting a new pair of prescription contact lenses! My vision will be 20/20×10^28.
I am really excited and hopeful about this one. I think Gamma Ray astronomy has a lot to tell us about all the strange things we see (or don’t see) around us, including the black holes and about the center of the Milkyway. This really is a milestone because VERITAS complements the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) which is expected to go in to the orbit on December 2007. Looking forward to observing events that are spotted and measured by GLAST and confirmed, supported and enhanced by VERITAS measurements; no lingering doubts as to “did they really see that?”
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