What is Antares Telescope?
The '''ANTARES''' [[Experiment]] is a [[telescope]] that is built at the bottom of the [[Mediterranean]] [[Sea]]. But it is not a normal telescope that uses [[light]] to see distant objects. Instead, it uses [[neutrino]]s, very small and light [[particles]] that can fly through the earth. The name comes from '''A'''stronomy with a '''N'''eutrino '''T'''elescope and [[wikt:abyss|'''A'''byss]] environmental '''RES'''earch project. There is also a star called [[Antares]]. == Functions == It uses 900 light sensors attached to 12 strings that float in the sea to detect neutrinos. The strings are held onto the sea floor by an [[anchor]] and straight up by a [[buoy]] floating in the sea. Although the neutrinos are invisible, they can create a different particle, a [[muon]], in water. The muon then gives off light by the [[Cherenkov]] effect because it travels faster than light in water. The sensors are so sensitive that they need only very little light and can even detect single [[photon]]s. This is necessary because the muons produce only very little light. == Location == The detector is located in the Mediterranean, about 40 [[kilometres]] off [[Toulon]] in southern [[France]]. There the sea is 2500 [[metres]] deep. It is built by a group of [[physics|physicists]] from 12 [[Europe]]an countries. Currently, 10 strings are running. The last two strings will be installed in May 2008. == Trivia == It is the largest [[neutrino detector]] in the [[North]]ern [[hemisphere]]. Two similar detectors are located in the ice of the [[South Pole]] (AMANDA and IceCube). ==Other websites== *[http://antares.in2p3.fr/ ANTARES home] - {{in lang|en|fr}} {{tech-stub}} [[Category:Telescopes]]