- Argentina - Portal público de noticias de la República Argentina.
The Pierre Auger Observatory located in Malargüe city, in the province of Mendoza, examines high-energy cosmic rays and it is considered the world´s most important centre of its kind.
The Pierre Auger Observatory, in the city of Malargüe (province of Mendoza), at 1400 mts. above sea level is devoted to the study of ultra-high energy cosmic rays. This scientific enterprise, in which about 400 researchers from 17 different countries take part, is regarded as the world´s largest experiment ever conducted.
The observatory´s main objective is to analyze the energy spectrum of high-energy cosmic rays to establish their possible sources and the acceleration mechanisms of such amazing particles. By means of 1,600 detector tanks, they study the number of particles and how long they take to reach the Earth so that their origin and the way they spread can be worked out. The experiment also entails, in the short term, the construction of a similar observatory in the northern hemisphere, more precisely in Colorado in the US.
What are cosmic rays?
Cosmic rays are protons and atomic nucleus travelling across the universe at almost the speed of light. Soon after these particles enter the Earth´s atmosphere, they strike air molecules and generate a cascade of secondary particles, which may scatter all around 40 or more km2 when reaching the surface of our planet.
Another national complex
The El Leoncito Astronomic Complex, which takes its name from the National Park where it is located, is leading the way towards a fully developing discipline. Being unique in the country and one of the most important in the southern hemisphere, it is set in a remote place -180 km from San Juan city and 2,550 mts above sea level. Far away from pollution and city lights, the observatory represents a service centre for the astronomic community.
The CASLEO depends from CONICET (National Council for Technical and Scientific Research) and counts on the Department for Science, Technology and Productive Innovation as well as the National Universities of La Plata, Córdoba and San Juan. The place where the observatory was built offers a privileged dark, almost non-polluted sky with a low steam level, which makes it perfect for observation. Practically free from evening winds and with around 300 clear night skies per year, it is the ideal frame to observe at first sight millions of stars, constellations and even the Milky Way.
