VERITAS

VERITAS is an observatory in Arizona with four large telescopes designed to observe gamma rays from space. The facility sits at an elevation of about 1268 meters and uses a special imaging technique to detect high-energy cosmic radiation.

Construction began in 2003 with the first prototype telescope, and the complete four-telescope system became operational in 2007. The observatory was developed to investigate extremely high-energy events coming from space.

The VERITAS project brings together scientists from institutions across the United States, Canada, Germany, and Ireland for gamma-ray research.

The site sits on a mountain in the desert and is accessible from there, with clear nights being necessary for observations. Visitors should expect dry climate conditions and limited facilities on site.

Each telescope has hundreds of small mirrors and a highly sensitive camera that can catch even faint cosmic signals. This sensitive equipment allows the observatory to register the faintest energy bursts from space.

Location: Arizona

Elevation above the sea: 1,268 m

Diameter: 12 m

Part of: Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory

Website: http://veritas.sao.arizona.edu

GPS coordinates: 31.67510,-110.95200

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:55