Status of the Milagro Gamma Ray Observatory

TL;DR

The Milagro Gamma Ray Observatory is a pioneering water Cherenkov detector that continuously surveys the northern sky at TeV energies, enabling detection of transient and persistent gamma-ray sources.

Contribution

This paper reports on the status and initial results of the first large-area water Cherenkov detector dedicated to high-energy gamma-ray astronomy.

Findings

Operational since 1999 with ongoing data collection

First all-sky survey at TeV energies in the northern hemisphere

Detection of candidate gamma-ray sources or transient events

Abstract

The Milagro Gamma Ray Observatory is the world's first large-area water Cherenkov detector capable of continuously monitoring the sky at TeV energies. Located in northern New Mexico, Milagro will perform an all sky survey of the Northern Hemisphere at energies between ~250 GeV and 50 TeV. With a high duty cycle, large detector area (~5000 square meters), and a wide field-of-view (~1 sr), Milagro is uniquely capable of searching for transient and DC sources of high-energy gamma-ray emission. Milagro has been operating since February, 1999. The current status of the Milagro Observatory and initial results will be discussed.