CACTUS

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, but gamma rays are not charged particle Čerenkov radiation producers as observed at C.A.C.T.U.S.
• The Solar Project - the physical facility that preceded C.A.C.T.U.S. in Daggett.
• 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.)