An Exhibition and lectures of the TAO project were held at 1F Floor Gallery 2 of Ito International Research Center, the University of Tokyo from October 1 to 27. A permanent exhibitions were shown such as movie screening on a 180-inch monitor and the gallery of beautiful astrophotography taken at the miniTAO telescope site. Other events were also held each week; a lecture session introducing the starry sky of the southern hemisphere, a live broadcasting with TAO members observing at Atacama, and an event which enables virtually experience of the starry sky seen from TAO Observatory.

In addition to feel the charm of TAO project challenging the mystery of the universe with the best observation in the harsh environment of the world's highest observatory at altitude 5640m, visitors could experience the distant starry sky of Chile both academically and visually.

Presentation of the exhibition

The venue was also used as a salon space where you can browse pamphlets and books related to TAO, astrophotography photos and so on.

Special Events

An Opening Event

An opening event was held on the first day of the exhibition; a keynote lecture by Professor Yoshii, the Principal Investigator of the TAO project, and a mini lecture of the starry sky of Chile where the TAO project has been proceeding. Following the lecture, we connected to the TAO members who are observing at Atacama, Chile, with the venue by the TV conference system and conducted a live broadcast. We received many questions, and it seems that many people were interested in lives and research activities in a unique environment. Furthermore, at the VR event that the best starry sky seen from the world's highest Observatory, there were many amazing cheering to the beauty and the technology of the projection.

October 1st, Monday　10：00-12：00 Keynote speech 「TAO Project」 Yuzuru Yoshii (Professor at Institute of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, Principal Investigator of TAO project The outline of the TAO project to be built at 5640 m in Co. Chajnantor, Atacama in Chile, was explained; a description of the current status of mini-TAO 1 m telescope and the plan of 6.5 m telescope. Mini lecture Searching for the sky in the Southern Hemisphere①　"The Southern Cross and the Coalsack Nebula" Takashi Miyata (Associate professor at IoA, University of Tokyo) Since Atacama, where the TAO project is underway, is in the southern hemisphere, you we can see the stars that are not observable in from Japan. First of all the difference between northern and southern sky was introduced, subsequently, the Southern Cross, the representative of the southern objects, and the dark nebula called “Coalsack" spreading beside it were explained. Live relay Let's talk with the observation site The live broadcasting was carried out connecting to the TAO members observing at Atacama by TV conference system. Through the interaction between the venue and researchers on the opposite side of the earth, participants could know the state of the world's highest astronomical observatory. Experience event "Let's experience Chile" (Panoramic View Experience) Using the head mounted display, participants got a virtual experience of the beautiful starry sky from the world's highest observatory; TAO.

Twilight Lectures

We held a continuous lectures every week about the objects which can be seen from southern hemisphere that cannot be seen from Japan. Week by week, the number of participants increased, and questions were casted actively towards lectures as well as the live broadcast from the observatory site.

October 10th, Wednesday Searching for the sky in the Southern Hemisphere② "Birth and Death of stars in the Carina Nebula" Tomohiko Nakamura (Postdoctoral fellow at IoA, University of Tokyo) There is a large nebula called the Carina Nebula in the Milky Way of the southern sky, and various phenomena occurs in the region where abundant interstellar matter exists. In this lecture, the appearance of the dying stars and the newly born stars by infrared observation were introduced.

October 17th, Wednesday Exploring the sky in the southern hemisphere③ "Looking for a lighthouse in the center of the Milky Way" Matsunaga Noriyuki (Assistant professor at Department of Astronomy, University of Tokyo) By infrared observation variable stars Cepheid which can be called "the lighthouse of the universe" were found in the Galactic center. By examining those stars, we can reveal the distance to the stars, and how stars born in the past.

10月24日(水) October 24th, Wednesday④ Exploring the sky in the southern hemisphere Hidenori Takahashi (Postdoctoral fellow at IoA, University of Tokyo) The famous Magellanic cloud cannot be seen from the northern hemisphere. Under the theme " Magellanic cloud is interesting now!", a lecture was given on the latest topics of the Magellanic cloud, which also included observational results at Atacama.

We received many impressions and comments on the notebook which we put in the venue of the exhibition and lecture. We realized that the TAO project was cheered and supported by many people.