The Japanese University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) has officially opened its doors at a record-breaking altitude of 5,640 meters above sea level in the Chilean Andes. Surpassing the altitude of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, TAO now holds the title of the world’s highest astronomical site.
The construction of TAO was no easy feat, facing technical and political challenges along the way. This included negotiations with Indigenous peoples, the Chilean government, local universities, and the Chilean Health Ministry. However, after years of hard work and collaboration, the 6.5-meter telescope was successfully erected on the summit of Mt. Chajnantor.
TAO is equipped with two cutting-edge science instruments – SWIMS and MIMIZUKU – specifically designed for infrared observation of the universe. SWIMS will focus on imaging galaxies from the early universe, while MIMIZUKU will study primordial disks of dust where stars and galaxies form.
Researchers at TAO have high hopes for groundbreaking discoveries that could challenge current knowledge and shed light on unexplained phenomena. The observatory’s predecessor, miniTAO, operated on the mountaintop in 2009 and achieved the Guinness World Record for the highest astronomical observatory on Earth.
Discussions about TAO began 26 years ago, with on-site work commencing in 2006 with the paving of the first access road and installation of a weather monitor. As TAO begins its operations, scientists are eagerly awaiting the wealth of data that will be collected to further our understanding of the universe.
