High Energy Stereoscopic System

The High Energy Stereoscopic System consists of five telescopes, including four with 12-meter mirrors arranged in a square and one central 28-meter mirror telescope.

The facility began operations in 2002 and expanded its capabilities in 2012 with the addition of the central telescope, known as HESS II.

The facility bears the name of Victor Hess, who made fundamental contributions to the understanding of cosmic radiation through experimental research.

Located at an elevation of 1800 meters, the facility studies gamma rays in an energy range from 0.03 to 100 TeV through atmospheric Cherenkov radiation detection.

In 2004, the system became the first Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope experiment to spatially resolve a cosmic gamma-ray source.

Location: Khomas Region

Inception: 2002

Elevation above the sea: 1,800 m

Website: https://mpi-hd.mpg.de/hfm/HESS

GPS coordinates: -23.27133,16.50000

Latest update: March 5, 2025 18:41