Access road to the summit of Chajnantor opened !

On April 2006, a research road to access to the summit of Chajnantor where the TAO telescope will be constructed has been completed. A completion ceremony has been held at the summit with people living at San Pedro de Atacama.

The open of the access road has allowed us to research on observation condition at the summit, which has been seeking for a long time. We have set a weather monitor and an infrared cloud monitor at the summit and started automatic observations on metrological condition and a cloud coverage. On November 2006, seeing observations have been carried out at the summit. This is a significant step forward to achieve the TAO project.

▲The access road to the summit looks like a white zigzag line.	▲Blue gate installed at the entrance of the access road. This gate is normally closed.
▲Picture of the summit area of Chajnantor. Starting from the left in the picture, an antenna for a satellite communication network, an infrared cloud monitor, solar panels, and a wind power generator are equipped on the roof of a blue container house. On November 2006, additional solar panels have been installed next to the container, its right side in the picture. Land development at the summit is also continued.

▲Many persons including local residents and people who are engaged in road construction works have gathered at the completion ceremony.	▲At the peak position in the summit area, a monument have been established to memorialize friendship between Japan and Chile.
▲After the completion ceremony, a party has been held with the local residents.	▲The University of Tokyo and San Pedro de Atacama city have signed in a letter of agreement.