CACTUS

C.A.C.T.U.S.

File:Fish eye Solar Two.jpg Solar II collector (prior to Observatory use)
Organization	University of California, Davis
Location	Daggett, California, USA
Coordinates	34.87187°N 116.83419°W / 34.87187; -116.83419
Altitude	610 metres (2,000 ft)
Established	2001-2004
Closed	2005
Website	C.A.C.T.U.S. University of California at Davis
Telescopes
Solar 2 ACT Čerenkov air shower
Location of C.A.C.T.U.S.

C.A.C.T.U.S. (Converted Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope Using Solar-2) is a ground based Air Cherenkov Telescope (ACT) located at Daggett, California, near Barstow. It was originally a solar power plant called Solar Two, but was converted to an observatory starting in 2001. The first astronomical observations started in the fall of 2004. However, the facility had its last observing runs in November 2005 as funds for observational operations from the National Science Foundation were no longer available. The facility is owned by the University of California, Davis.

See also

• Air shower (physics)
• Čerenkov radiation
• Gamma-ray astronomy - provides some history of high energy astronomy.
• IACT
• The Solar Project - the physical facility that preceded C.A.C.T.U.S. in Daggett.
• STACEE
• Ultra-high-energy cosmic ray

External links

• UC Davis Official Website
• Google Satellite Image
• The observatory is located at 34.87187°N 116.83419°W / 34.87187; -116.83419 (C.A.C.T.U.S.)