University of Tokyo Opens World's Highest Observatory in Chile

The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) officially opened its doors after 26 years of planning and construction. The world's tallest optical-infrared TAO telescope measures 6.5 meters on Mount Chajnantor in Chile's Atacama Desert, at 18,500 feet.

According to The Verge, TAO, taking over from MiniTAO, surpasses the University of Madrid's Chacaltaya Observatory, which lies at 17,191 feet on Mount Chacaltaya in Bolivia.

The top five tallest observatories are in Chile's Atacama Desert, with James Ax Observatory (17,100 feet), Atacama Cosmology Telescope (17,030 feet), and Llano de Chajnantor Observatory (16,700 feet) following. The area's clear skies and tax incentives make it a hub for astronomy research.

Best View of The Cosmos

With its high altitude and low moisture levels, TAO can see a wide range of near-infrared wavelengths, including mid-infrared, unlike any other ground-based telescope.

The University of Tokyo notes that terrestrial observatories may take higher-resolution celestial photographs than space-based ones.

In 2025, TAO will begin scientific observations to solve puzzles about galaxy and planet formation. It will also enhance ALMA telescope investigations by revealing the same cosmic objects at multiple wavelengths.

However, construction workers at a tremendous altitude require careful medical examinations and supplementary oxygen.

Even researchers at the site must avoid altitude sickness. The team proposes running TAO remotely from a lower base site to mitigate these risks.

Adding TAO to the European Extremely Large Telescope and European Very Large Telescope in the Atacama region improves astronomical research at one of the world's most coveted celestial observation sites.

SWIMS is one of these devices that captures images of early galaxies to shed light on their mysterious creation from dust and gas, per Space.com. Many parts of this cosmic development remain unknown after decades of research.

According to the project's mission plan, the MIMIZUKU device will study primordial dust disks where stars and galaxies form.

It Took Decades to Build TAO

Riko Senoo, a University of Tokyo graduate student and TAO researcher, stressed the importance of high-quality astronomical observations in comprehending celestial events.

Senoo stated in a post that the TAO provides researchers with "better astronomical observations of the real thing" so that they can conduct more accurate experiments.

Prof. Yuzuru Yoshii of the University of Tokyo in Japan, who led TAO for 26 years, said building the TAO was an "incredible challenge" not only technically but also politically.

Nevertheless, according to a WION report, he expressed gratitude to everyone who helped make their vision come true.

He and his colleagues built and operated a 1-meter telescope on the summit in 2009 before building the bigger telescope. The miniTAO telescope observed the Milky Way's core.

Two years later, it won the Guinness World Record for being the tallest astronomical observatory.

In 2006, after 26 years of negotiations, the observatory built its first access road to Mount Chajnantor's peak and installed a weather monitor.