High Altitude Water Cherenkov Experiment

The High Altitude Water Cherenkov Experiment is an observatory on Sierra Negra volcano that uses 300 water tanks equipped with sensitive light detectors to catch cosmic and gamma rays. These tanks register the faint signals when cosmic particles strike the Earth's upper atmosphere.

The observatory became operational in 2015 and built upon earlier detection methods that could monitor lower-energy cosmic radiation. It represented a major step forward in detecting the highest-energy events from distant parts of the universe.

Researchers from Mexican and American institutions work together at this facility to study cosmic rays and space phenomena. This cross-border partnership has made it an important center for scientific collaboration in the region.

The facility sits at 4,100 meters (13,450 feet) elevation, so visitors should allow time to adjust to the thin air and bring plenty of water. Weather conditions are harsh at this altitude, making warm and weatherproof clothing necessary, and checking access conditions ahead of time is wise.

The observatory can detect particles with energies between 100 billion and 100 trillion electron volts, making it sensitive to the most powerful events in the universe. This capability allows researchers to study phenomena that remain invisible to every other type of instrument.

Location: Puebla

Website: http://hawc-observatory.org

GPS coordinates: 18.99478,-97.30758

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:29