The inaugural of MACE Observatory was a part of the Platinum Jubilee year celebrations of the DAE.
- DAE was set up under the direct charge of the Prime Minister through executive order in 1954 in accordance with Atomic Energy Act, 1948.
- DAE leads Research and development for the peaceful uses of atomic energy.
About MACE Observatory
- It is largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia and 2nd largest in the world.
- Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be the largest Cherenkov telescope in the world (currently under construction). It consists of two array located at Spain and Chile, respectively.
- It is located at an altitude of ~4,300 m, the highest of its kind in the world.
- Objective: Observe high-energy gamma rays to understand the most energetic phenomena in the universe (such as supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts).
- It is named after scientist Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov, who discovered that charged particles glow when they pass through a non-conducting medium under certain conditions (referred as Cherenkov radiation).
- Indigenously built by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) with support from Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL) and other partners.
- It will also complement global observatories such as High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS), etc.
What are Gamma Rays?
Why Hanle in ladakh is chosen for observatory?
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