Abstract
VERITAS, the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System, is a major new ground-based observatory for studying nonthermal astrophysics in the gamma-ray band above 100 GeV. Stereo observations with the first two of four telescopes began in March, 2006 at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona, USA. Construction and commissioning of the remainder of the array has taken place during the Summer and Fall of 2006, in parallel with engineering and science observations by the first two telescopes. We present the performance of the VERITAS telescopes during this commissioning period and discuss the key science program planned for VERITAS during the first two years of routine array operation, beginning in March, 2007. This program includes a sky survey in the galactic plane, observations of SNRs and PWNe, studies of TeV-emitting AGN, and a search for dark matter.
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Humensky, T.B. Status of VERITAS. Astrophys Space Sci 311, 353–357 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-007-9550-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-007-9550-4