For scientists and AAS attendees making their own way through Southern Arizona’s AstroTrail after the conference, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory — a part of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian will host two AAS-only Up Close tours of the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) in Amado, Arizona. During this 1.25-hour walking tour, guests will go behind the scenes of the only fully array of gamma-ray telescopes in North America. VERITAS is a unique and sensitive instrument capable of detecting flashes of light, known as Cherenkov light — that come from some of the universe's most violent activity, like black holes, neutron stars, and supernovae — as they hit Earth's atmosphere and scatter. This tour enters restricted areas of the observatory to reveal critical engineering components from the early and current MMT Observatory — a partnership with the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory — and weather permitting, includes a platform climb of a VERITAS telescope.
This tour does not provide transportation or food.
Date: Friday, January 9, 2025
Time: 9:30am or 1:30pm
Cost: $30 per person + taxes and fees
Please note: Please note: This tour requires closed toe walking shoes. No exceptions. Whipple Observatory is located approximately 2.5 hours from the Phoenix Convention Center. In addition, Kitt Peak, Mt Lemmon SkyCenter, and the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab are located roughly halfway (in latitude) between the Convention Center and Whipple Observatory, if you are interested in visiting these locations, too.
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