The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) is overseen by the CTAO ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), a legal entity under EU law created to manage the construction and operation of this next-generation gamma-ray observatory. The CTAO ERIC was formally established by the European Commission on January 7, 2025, with the international support of nine Founding Members: Austria, Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Spain. Additionally, Japan as a Strategic Partner, and the accession of Switzerland and Croatia as Founding Members is being processed. The official construction of the CTAO began with the formation of this legal entity, and the first telescopes are scheduled to be assembled in the coming years. The CTAO is already preparing to launch its early science programme with its future intermediate array configurations, which will already outperform existing facilities of the same kind. Meanwhile, the Observatory is also gearing up to release its first open science data challenge, aimed at helping users familiarize themselves with the CTAO’s capabilities and the analysis of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray data.
Main contact for TNA call: Robarta Zanin
Available expertise:
- Analysis of VHE gamma-ray data
- Preparation of CTAO science proposals
- MWL/MM coordination from the VHE gamma-ray perspective