GAMMA-RAY OBSERVATORY

This far-sighted next-generation telescope array may help answer some of the universe's biggest mysteries

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It can be easy to forget that one of the best ways to view the greater universe is to peer far beyond visible light, into the gamma-ray end of the electromagnetic spectrum. With the ability to more efficiently see beyond our Solar System, gamma-ray astronomy is an important field for helping us understand the cosmos.

The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) plans to take the gamma-ray approach one step further than traditional • arrays. By looking into much higher energy ranges than ever before, astronomers will be able to observe nonthermal processes, enabling them to research the great mysteries of the universe.

Non-thermal radiation is considered to be different from normal radiation occurring on the electromagnetic spectrum. It's thought to be created when elementary particles decay, which are the fundamental building blocks of all matter. However, this process isn't yet completely understood. Cosmic rays are included in this definition, and their source is one of the mysteries that the CTA aims to discover.