The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO), which took 26 years to design and build, was officially opened in Chile last Tuesday. The TAO optical-infrared telescope with a 6.5 m diameter aperture, located at an altitude of 5,640 m on Mount Chachnantor in Chile’s Atacama Desert, has become the world’s tallest telescope.

TAO replaced a smaller version of itself; Previously, the title of longest telescope belonged to the MiniTAO telescope. The new object surpasses the Chacaltaya Observatory of the University of Madrid, located at an altitude of 5,220 m on the mountain of the same name in Bolivia. The next three record holders of the five highest altitudes are also in the Atacama. Ax Observatory (James Ax Observatory Somology Telescope, 5,190 m) and Llano de Chajnantor Observatory (Llano de Chajnantor Observatory, 5,104 m). Many of the world’s largest observatories were built in the mountainous regions of northeastern Chile near Bolivia because of the clear skies in the region. The development of projects is also facilitated by tax advantages.

A higher position means less moisture in the air: TAO includes “many wavelengths of the near infrared range “, besides the medium wave range – no other ground-based telescope can do this. Such ground-based observatories are able to take higher resolution images of space thanks to their wider apertures than their space-based counterparts. The telescope will be used for research purposes “The formation of galaxies and the origin of planets” From 2025. It could also enhance observations from the nearby ALMA telescope by examining the same objects at different wavelengths to provide researchers with new information.

The obvious advantages of TAO located at such a high altitude will have to be paid for, because people cannot adapt to life in such conditions. Builders working on the telescope underwent medical examinations and regularly breathed oxygen. Specialists working at the facility will also need to take precautions to avoid altitude sickness symptoms associated with oxygen starvation. Scientists hypothesize that the telescope will be controlled mostly by remote control from the bottom base, which will help avoid such problems.