Over 100 participants at the first online meeting of the ASTRI Collaboration
A general meeting dedicated to the progress of the ASTRI Mini-Array was held on December 4th. The event was highly successful, with over 100 members from the international scientific community attending online.
The meeting, which lasted about three hours, offered both an updated overview of the project’s status, now in an advanced stage and nearing the first scientific multi-telescope stereoscopic observations, and the opportunity to discuss important aspects of the scientific planning.
In his introductory presentation, the Principal Investigator Giovanni Pareschi emphasized how ASTRI is an innovative gamma-ray astronomy experiment using atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Thanks to its large field of view and good angular resolution, it aims to precisely identify candidate cosmic-ray acceleration sources in the most promising regions of the sky. This involves observing very high-energy gamma rays (1 – 200 TeV) in areas already identified at low angular resolution by the LHAASO and HAWC astroparticle arrays. He also pointed out the high level of technological innovation introduced by the ASTRI Mini-Array telescopes, which also act as precursors to approximately 40 Small-Sized Telescopes that will be installed at the southern site of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) in Chile.
The new coordinator of the ASTRI Project Committee, Marco Tavani, demonstrated the strategic importance of the ASTRI Mini-Array for both the Italian and international astrophysics communities, given its unique position among gamma-ray observatories as a small, highly sensitive experiment with high programmatic flexibility.
Salvatore Scuderi (Project Manager) then presented the project’s status and recent progress, outlining the next steps toward completing the infrastructure. Andrea Giuliani (Project Scientist) discussed the commissioning and calibration activities, describing the path that will lead to the start of the first scientific observations. Finally, Stefano Vercellone (Science Group Coordinator) reviewed the main scientific objectives and the opportunities the Mini-Array will offer for the study of the Universe at very high energies.
The meeting was especially constructive, demonstrating the significant advancements made toward the final rollout of the ASTRI Mini-Array and the first scientific observations planned for summer 2026. Seven telescopes have already been installed to date. The remaining two telescopes will be installed by next spring. All telescopes will be equipped with their own Cherenkov cameras by the end of 2026.
The first stereoscopic observation of gamma-ray air showers, achieved thanks to the presence of two telescopes donned with Cherenkov cameras, also sparked great enthusiasm.
The ASTRI collaboration members can find all the details of the meeting in the dedicated Indico page. For further information please contact: astri.info AT inaf.it.
This post is also available in: Italian
