NEW DELHI, 8th October, 2024 (WAM) -- Asia’s largest imaging telescope has started functioning in Ladakh as part of the highest observatory in altitude in the world, India’s Department of Atomic Energy said in a statement today announcing its opening.
Named the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory, it was inaugurated by Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of India’s Atomic Energy Commission.
MACE will help the global scientific community in enhancing its knowledge in the fields of astrophysics, fundamental physics, and particle acceleration mechanisms, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics said.
The Institute is India’s premier institution devoted to research in astronomy and astrophysics.
Made up of 356 mirror panels, a high-resolution imaging camera of MACE weighs a phenomenal 1,200 kg. It will be used for the detection and characterisation of major atmospheric events.
In his inaugural address, Mohanty said the observatory’s telescope will allow for a deeper understanding of the most energetic events in the universe.
He hoped the MACE project would “inspire future generations of astronomers, scientists, and engineers and encourage students to explore careers in astronomy and astrophysics”.
Ladakh is a Union Territory of India and includes the country’s highest plateau of 3,000 metres.