On September 19, the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory gGmbH has signed a framework agreement with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) to install the northern hemisphere Cherenkov telescope network in the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, on the island of La Palma. The observatory will be located on a plateau below the rim of an extinct volcanic crater at 2200 m above sea level. This location offers excellent conditions for astronomical observation.

Under this agreement, Spain will receive 10% of the observation time, to share between the network in the northern hemisphere and the South. Spain’s future contribution to the construction of telescopes will facilitate the access of Spanish groups to additional observation time as part of the Observatory key scientific programs and time to be offered in open competition to all members of the same countries.

ICCUB researchers, which are part of the CTA Consortium, will take also take advantadge of this agreement. The High Energy Astrophysics Group of the ICCUB, led by the professor and scientific director Josep María Paredes and the aggregate professor Marc Ribó, has participated in the scientific objectives definition of the project and, in collaboration with a team of ICCUB engineers, they are contributing to the design and production microelecronics for CTA cameras.
Other groups of the Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), to which the ICCUB is part, are also deeply involved in the CTA project (for more information, see the IEEC webpage)

Source: IEEC news