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Large Area Telescope
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The first all-sky map produced by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.
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Large Area Telescope

Also known as: LAT
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Quick Summary

The first all-sky map produced by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.
The first all-sky map produced by the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.

The Large Area Telescope (LAT) is a key instrument aboard the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, launched in 2008. Its primary function is to study gamma-ray-emitting sources, which are among the most violent and energetic objects in the universe, including gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, and black holes.1

Unlike visible light or X-rays, gamma rays cannot be focused by lenses or mirrors. The LAT uses silicon and tungsten strips to detect gamma rays by measuring the ionization they produce. This allows it to map the entire sky and distinguish gamma rays from more common cosmic rays. The LAT has been instrumental in discovering new types of pulsars and observing gamma-ray emissions from novas.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
  1. Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
  2. Large Binocular Telescope Observatory
  3. Very Large Telescope

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