Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory, Cosmic-ray observatory in Sichuan Province, China
The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) is a scientific research facility sitting at 4,410 feet (1,344 m) above sea level on the Daocheng plateau in Sichuan province, China. The facility consists of hundreds of water tanks and electromagnetic detectors spread across the plateau, recording particles arriving from space.
The facility was initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2017 and built in stages over the following years on the plateau. Full operation began in the early 2020s, when all detectors were brought online.
LHAASO is known among physicists worldwide for capturing radiation from the galaxy that was previously thought unreachable. Visitors who see the facility notice how the detectors are arranged across the plateau in a regular grid, like a vast silent network of concrete pools.
The site sits at very high elevation, so acclimatization before arriving is strongly recommended. Warm clothing and sturdy footwear are necessary, as weather on the plateau can shift quickly even in summer.
LHAASO has recorded gamma radiation at energy levels that existing models in astroparticle physics said should not exist. This has pushed researchers to rethink how particles are accelerated inside the galaxy.
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