Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment Telescope
Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment Telescope (MACE) is an imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope (IACT) located near Hanle, Ladakh, India. It is the highest (in altitude) and second largest Cerenkov telescope in the world. It was built by Electronics Corporation of India, Hyderabad, for the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and was assembled at the campus of Indian Astronomical Observatory at Hanle. It was originally scheduled to become operational by 2016, but plans were pushed back to begin operations in 2020. It will be remotely operated and will run on solar power.
| Alternative names | MACET |
|---|---|
| Part of | Indian Astronomical Observatory |
| Location(s) | Hanle, Ladakh, India |
| Coordinates | 32°46′48″N 78°58′35″E |
| Altitude | 4,270 m (14,010 ft) |
| Built | –2020 |
| Telescope style | IACT |
| Collecting area | 356 m2 (3,830 sq ft) |
| Focal length | 21 m (68 ft 11 in) |
| Website | www |
Location of Major Atmospheric Cerenkov Experiment Telescope | |
The telescope is the second-largest gamma ray telescope in the world and will help the scientific community enhance its understanding in the fields of astrophysics, fundamental physics, and particle acceleration mechanisms. The largest telescope of the same class is the 28-metre-diameter High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) telescope being operated in Namibia.