World's tallest observatory put into operation

The world's highest observatory is officially put into operation. The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) is located on a high mountaintop in the Chilean Andes at an altitude of 5,640 meters, higher than the Chilean Atacama Large Millimeter Wave Array at an altitude of 5,050 meters. TAO is located on the top of Cerro Chajnantor in the Atacama Desert. The name of the mountain means “place of departure” in the now extinct indigenous language Kunza. The area's high altitude, thin air and year-round arid climate are deadly to humans, but it is an excellent observation location for infrared telescopes like TAO. The observatory is designed to study the evolution of galaxies and exoplanets. TAO's 6.5-meter telescope contains two scientific instruments. One of the instruments, SWIMS, will image galaxies in the early universe to better understand how early galaxies were born from primitive dust and gas; the second instrument, MIMIZUKU, will study the formation of stars. and the galaxy's primordial dust disk. Project leader Yuzuru Yoshii, a professor at the University of Tokyo, said in a statement, “Building a telescope on a mountaintop is an incredible challenge, both technically and politically. I contacted the indigenous people to ensure “Their rights and opinions were taken into account; the Chilean government was contacted to ensure permission was obtained, the local university was contacted to collaborate on technology, and the Chilean Ministry of Health was contacted to ensure that workers could work at that altitude in a safe manner.”

https://www.space.com/worlds-highest-observatory-tao-university-of-tokyo-atacama-opens