The University of Tokyo’s Atacama Observatory, or TAO, is a 6.5 m diameter telescope located on a 5,640 m high mountain peak in the Chilean Andes. This observatory is known for its ability to observe the universe using infrared rays and surpasses the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) telescope system at an altitude of 5,050 m. The observatory’s name, Cerro Chajnantor, means “place of departure” in the Kunza language of the indigenous Likan Antai community.
The region’s high altitude and thin air make it dangerous for humans but ideal for infrared telescopes like TAO. The precision of observations requires low humidity, making Earth’s atmosphere transparent at infrared wavelengths. TAO includes two scientific instruments: SWIMS and MIMIZUKU, designed to observe the universe using infrared rays. SWIMS will image galaxies from the early universe to understand their formation from primordial dust and gas while MIMIZUKU will study primordial dust disks that helped stars and galaxies form.
Scientists hope that TAO and other telescopes will help make unexpected discoveries that challenge current understanding and explain the unknown. They believe that better astronomical observations of real objects will lead to more accurate experiments on Earth. As one of the tallest observatories on Earth, TAO is expected to provide valuable insights into the evolution of galaxies and exoplanets.