An International Facility to Study
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On the beautiful plains of southeastern Colorado, USA, a new window on the universe is taking shape. There, the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory's Northern Site will be constructed to study the universe's highest energy particles, which constantly shower down on Earth in the form of cosmic rays. Ultra high energy cosmic rays are one of the enduring mysteries of science. The origin and nature of these particles is just becoming known fifty years after their discovery. Last November, the Auger Observatory discovered that these particles are most likely associated with galaxies that have a very active center - probably a huge black hole is causing this activity. Scientists from 17 countries have been building the Southern Site of the Auger Observatory since 2000, and that detector array is now approaching completion near the town of Malargüe, Mendoza Province in western Argentina. The Auger Project web site provides information on the science of ultra high-energy cosmic rays and on the Auger Project. There, you can also view some of the data that have led to the afore-mentioned discovery of ultra-high energy cosmic ray origins. |
Scientists from around the world met at Lamar Community College in May 2008 to analyze Auger South data and
discuss plans for proposing and building the Auger North observatory. Large size 
An Auger tank on the plains of Argentina near the Andes.
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This web site is dedicated to informing the public about the Auger North site in southeast Colorado and
provides links to local resources and people who are working to facilitate building the northern site. Questions
and answers can be found at the links here and on the main Auger web page.
Background image:© ESO Education & Public Relations Department