The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) is set to solidify its position as the world’s largest and most advanced gamma-ray astronomy observatory, and will be based at the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma with 13 state of the art telescopes.
The European Commission announced the formation of the CTAO as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), a pivotal step in accelerating its construction and scientific mission.
This facility is part of a collaboration led by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) with significant support from Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU), which has committed approximately €50 million to the project.
The CTAO will feature a global distribution of more than 60 telescopes across two primary sites: La Palma in the Northern Hemisphere and the Paranal Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert for the Southern Hemisphere.
The Canary Islands site will include four Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) and nine Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs). The prototype for the LST-1 is already operational, with three additional LSTs and one MST expected to follow in the coming years.
In Chile, the initial configuration includes five Small-Sized Telescopes (SSTs) and two MSTs, anticipated for delivery in early 2026. By that time, the observatory will begin operating intermediate telescope configurations, offering sensitivity that surpasses any existing gamma-ray instruments.
Pioneering Scientific Goals
The CTAO’s unprecedented precision and broad energy range (20 GeV–300 TeV) will enable breakthroughs in addressing some of astrophysics' most intriguing questions. Its primary research themes include investigating the origins and roles of relativistic cosmic particles, exploring extreme environments such as black holes and neutron stars, and probing the frontiers of physics by searching for dark matter and testing Einstein’s theory of relativity.
The observatory’s capabilities will also complement multi-wavelength astronomy, delivering crucial gamma-ray data to study some of the universe’s most extreme scenarios.
Open Science and Big Data Innovation
The CTAO is not just a triumph of astronomical engineering but also a pioneer in open science. As the first gamma-ray observatory of its kind to operate as an open-access facility, it will generate hundreds of petabytes of data annually. These datasets, along with accompanying software products, will be made publicly available, fostering collaboration across the global scientific community.
The observatory’s central organisation oversees the construction and operations in close collaboration with international partners, including the CTAO Consortium, a global network of researchers dedicated to its scientific exploitation. Advanced software systems are being integrated to manage the telescopes and their support systems, alongside efficient data processing infrastructure.
An International Endeavour
The CTAO ERIC includes members from Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic, along with the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Additionally, Switzerland is an observer, Japan serves as a strategic partner, and Australia participates as an external member.
With its state-of-the-art technology and collaborative ethos, the CTAO is poised to revolutionise gamma-ray astronomy, pushing the boundaries of human understanding about the universe. Its progress marks a significant milestone in the quest to unlock the secrets of the cosmos.
