The University of Tokyo’s Atacama Observatory, or TAO, is a 5,640 m high mountain peak observatory located in the Chilean Andes. It is known for its 6.5 m diameter telescope that uses infrared rays to observe the universe. The observatory officially opened in 2018 and surpasses the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) telescope system at an altitude of 5,050 m.
The region’s high altitude, thin air, and year-round arid climate make it dangerous for humans but an ideal location for infrared telescopes like TAO. The precision of observations requires low humidity, making Earth’s atmosphere transparent at infrared wavelengths.
TAO’s telescope includes two scientific instruments, SWIMS and MIMIZUKU, designed to observe the universe using infrared rays. SWIMS will image galaxies from the early universe to understand their formation from primordial dust and gas. MIMIZUKU will study primordial dust disks that helped stars and galaxies form.
Scientists hope that TAO and other telescopes will help make unexpected discoveries that challenge current understanding and explain the unknown. They believe that better astronomical observations of real objects will lead to more accurate experiments on Earth. The name Cerro Chajnantor means “place of departure” in the Kunza language of the indigenous Likan Antai community who inhabit the region around the observatory.
Located on a 5,640 m high peak of Cerro Chajnantor mountain in the Chilean Andes, TAO is an ideal location for infrared telescopes due to its high altitude, thin air and year-round arid climate which makes it dangerous for humans but perfect for these kind of observations.
TAO’s telescope features two scientific instruments: SWIMS (Submillimeter Wave Imager Survey) and MIMIZUKU (Molecular Imager for Mapping Interstellar Medium). These instruments are designed to observe the universe using infrared rays.
SWIMS will image galaxies from
