Operations of VERITAS in the Epoch 2016 to 2019

伽马射线是电磁辐射中能量最高的形式。对天体物理伽马射线的观测是对宇宙中最极端环境下的物理条件和过程的探测，可以用来测试基础物理学。位于亚利桑那州南部的高能辐射成像望远镜阵列系统（VERITAS）是一个用于研究高能伽马射线的地面天文台。VERITAS具有独特的能力，提供银河系和星系外源的高灵敏度定点观测。该奖项为VERITAS继续运营提供资金。在此期间，天文台将完成一个项目，旨在解决粒子物理学和基本定律、黑洞、宇宙学和星系粒子加速器的主题。该奖项还将支持VERITAS的合作努力，使公众参与科学。其中包括与惠普尔天文台游客中心合作，向公众、其他教育工作者、博物馆专业人员和更广泛的社区推广VERITAS科学。VERITAS是一个由4个12米大气切伦科夫望远镜组成的阵列。VERITAS寻求确定高能伽马射线的新来源，并对已知来源进行深入研究，以更好地了解其潜在的基本过程。VERITAS星系观测的主要目标是超新星遗迹、脉冲星、双星系统和分类未知的来源。VERITAS观测到的河外目标包括活动星系核、射电星系、星暴星系、星系团、球状星团和伽马射线暴。此外，本星系群、银河系中心和矮球状星系也是VERITAS观测的目标，重点是间接探测冷暗物质。

Gamma-rays are the highest energy form of electromagnetic radiation. Observations of astrophysical gamma-rays serve as probes of physical conditions and processes in the most extreme environments throughout the Universe, and can be used to test fundamental physics. The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS), located in southern Arizona, is a ground-based observatory designed to study high energy gamma-rays. VERITAS has unique capabilities, providing high sensitivity pointed observations of both galactic and extragalactic sources. This award provides funding to continue VERITAS operations. During this time the Observatory will complete a program designed to address themes in Particle Physics and Fundamental Laws, Black Holes, Cosmology, and Galactic Particle Accelerators. This award will also support the VERITAS collaboration efforts to engage the public in science. These include collaboration with the Whipple Observatory Visitors Center to promote VERITAS science to the public, other educators, museum professionals and the wider community. VERITAS is an array of four 12-meter atmospheric-Cherenkov Telescopes. VERITAS seeks both to identify new sources of high energy gamma rays, and to perform in-depth studies of the known sources to better understand their underlying fundamental processes. The primary targets of VERITAS Galactic observations are supernova remnants, pulsars, binary systems, and sources whose classification is unknown. The extragalactic targets observed by VERITAS include active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, starburst galaxies, galaxy clusters, globular clusters and gamma-ray bursts. In addition, Local Group galaxies, the Galactic Center and dwarf spheroidal galaxies and are targets of VERITAS observations focused on the indirect detection of cold dark matter.