India Inaugurates MACE, World’s Highest Gamma-Ray Observatory in Ladakh

Asia’s largest and the world’s highest gamma-ray observatory, MACE, has been inaugurated at Hanle, Ladakh, to propel India’s contribution to space research.

India has taken a giant leap in cosmic-ray research with the inauguration of the Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) at Hanle, Ladakh. Situated at an impressive altitude of 4,300 meters, the MACE Observatory is now Asia’s largest and the world’s highest gamma-ray observatory. This cutting-edge facility, built indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), aims to study high-energy gamma rays, offering insights into the universe’s most energetic phenomena, such as supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts.

The MACE project was inaugurated by Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), as part of the DAE’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohanty emphasized that the observatory places India at the forefront of global space research, contributing valuable data to the international scientific community. He also highlighted the project’s significance in promoting science and technology in Ladakh, alongside boosting the region’s socio-economic development.

This advanced observatory is expected to foster future collaborations with international space research programs, enhancing India’s role in multi-messenger astronomy. It will inspire a new generation of Indian scientists to explore careers in astrophysics, while cementing the country’s leadership in studying the mysteries of the cosmos from one of the world’s most unique and scenic scientific locations.

Reference:

pib.gov.in