VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) is a new major ground-based gamma-ray observatory with an array of four 12m optical reflectors for gamma-ray astronomy in the GeV - TeV energy range . The telescope design is based on the design of the existing 10m gamma-ray telescope of the Whipple Observatory. It consists of an array of imaging telescopes deployed such that they permit the maximum versatility and give the highest sensitivity in the 50 GeV - 50 TeV band (with maximum sensitivity from 100 GeV to 10 TeV). This VHE observatory will effectively complement Fermi.

 Image of one of the VERITAS telescopes with the Moon, Jupiter and Venus in alignment overhead (photo by P. Fortin).

New! Make sure you check out our Recent Results section (last updated June 23)!

New! VERITAS Highlights January 2009!

VERITAS Information:

• Design is based on Whipple Telescope   
• 39 feet aperture
• 350 mirrors on each dish
• 499 pixel camera on each telescope
• Each telescope has 3.5 deg field of view
• 50 GeV to 50 TeV Energy Range
  

VERITAS Science:

• black holes at the centres of active galaxies
• pulsars
• gamma-ray bursts
• supernova remnants
• globular clusters
  
• galaxies including our own Milky Way Galaxy.

Important Dates:

• April 2003: Installation of VERITAS prototype telescope at the FLWO Basecamp
• 15 February 2004: First light of VERITAS prototype
• 1 January 2007: Completion of 4 telescope array
• April 27-28 2007: First Light Celebration
  

Funding Agencies:

USA 

• Department of Energy
• National Science Foundation
• Smithsonian Institution

Canada 

• NSERC

Ireland 

• Enterprise Ireland

United Kingdom 

• PPARC