The SST-1M imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope for gamma-ray astrophysics We are pleased to announce the publication of a new scientific article detailing the design, prototyping, and validation of the SST-1M telescope. This Small-Sized Telescope is optimized for gamma-ray astrophysics at very high energies and features a cost-effective, lightweight, and robust design suited for harsh environments. The article highlights the innovative fully digitized camera system based on silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and presents the first promising results from the operational SST-1M stereo system at the Ondřejov Observatory in the Czech Republic. Read the full article on iopscience.iop.org or here on sst-1m.science
[ Laetitia Gibaud, PAiP-2025, 20-22 February 2025 in Warsaw ]Laetitia Gibaud, a member of the SST-1M consortium, recently presented the latest developments of the project at the PAiP-2025 conference in Warsaw, Poland. Her talk covered the telescope and camera design, along with preliminary results from the commissioning phase and data analysis.This event was a great opportunity to showcase the promising capabilities of the SST-1M mini-array for high-quality astronomical observations. Link to the conference here
Last week, members of the SST-1M collaboration gathered at CERN, Geneva, for their annual meeting. This much-anticipated event serves as a crucial platform for the collaboration’s members to meet in person, share insights, and engage in constructive discussions about the current progress, future improvements, and strategic directions of the project. The meeting fostered fruitful exchanges on key technical developments, operational challenges, and upcoming milestones. Participants had the opportunity to present their work, review ongoing initiatives, and collectively explore ways to enhance the performance and scientific impact of the SST-1M mini-array. As always, the spirit of collaboration and innovation was at...
[ Marek Nikołajuk, XXXII IAU, 6-15 August 2024 in Cape Town ] Marek Nikołajuk, member of the SST-1M consortium, presented a poster at the International Astronomical Union General Assembly held in Cape Town, South Africa. The presentation showcased an overview of the telescope and camera design, as well as preliminary results derived from the commissioning data and data analysis. The event provided an opportunity to highlight that the SST-1M mini-array has demonstrated its remarkable potential for conducting detailed astronomical observations. Despite operating under commissioning conditions at the Ondřejov Observatory, the array has already achieved significant results. These achievements pave the...
On October 3rd, a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) was hurled toward Earth by a powerful X9.1-class solar flare. It struck our magnetosphere a few days later, adorning the sky with colorful swirls. On October 7th, Vlastimil Vojáček captured the aurora borealis, creating a special atmosphere at the Ondřejov observatory.
[ Astronomický ústav AV ČR, Ondrejov 2024-09-27] As part of the Night of Scientists 2024, the Cherenkov telescopes located at the Ondřejov Observatory were also presented to the public. Jakub Juryšek and Dušan Mandát showcased the SST-1M project to attendees and explained related physical phenomena (the formation of particle showers, methods of observation, processing, and more). Last but not least, they answered curious questions from both young and adult visitors from the general public. Night of Scientists 2024 at Ondrejov Observatory Night of Scientists 2024 at Ondrejov Observatory ( read the corresponding article on Facebook in czech … )
[ Jakub Jurysek (Institute of Physics of Czech Academy of Sciences), Gamma 2024 – Milano, 2.-6. September 2024 ] The Single-Mirror Small Size Cherenkov Telescope (SST-1M) was developed by a consortium of institutes in Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The SST-1M design is based on the DaviesCotton concept, featuring a 4-meter mirror and an innovative SiPM-based camera. It is most sensitive to gamma rays in the TeV and multi-TeV energy bands. Since 2021, two SST-1M prototypes have been commissioned at the Ondřejov Observatory in the Czech Republic, where their performance in both mono and stereo observation modes is being tested....
[ Matthieu Heller (University of Geneva), Gamma 2024 – Milano, 2.-6. September 2024 ] The small-size single mirror telescopes, SST-1Ms, are two Cherenkov telescope prototypes developed by a consortium of Czech, Polish, and Swiss institutions. Featuring a 9.42 m² multi-segment mirror and a 5.6 m focal length, the SST-1Ms offer a broad 9-degree field of view and have proven capable of detecting gamma rays with energies starting from several hundred GeV. The innovative cameras incorporate a compact photo-detector plane with 1296 hexagonal silicon photomultiplier pixels and a fully digital readout and trigger system utilizing 250 MSps FADCs. Currently undergoing commissioning at...
[ Thomas Tavernier (FZU, Prague, Czech Republic), TeVPa 2024 – Chicago, 27. 8. 2024 ] SST-1M is a single-mirror small size Cherenkov telescope prototype developed by a consortium among institutes in Switzerland, Poland, and the Czech Republic. With a 4 meter mirror and a 5.6 m focal length, SST-1Ms have a broad 9 degree field of view and aim to detect gamma rays spanning the energy range of 1 to 300 TeV. The DigiCam camera incorporates a compact Photo-Detector Plane comprising 1296 hexagonal silicon photomultiplier pixels and a fully digital readout and trigger system using a 250 MHz ADC. Two SST-1M...
[ Bastien Lacave, CTAO Science Symposium, 15-18 April 2024 in Bologna ] Current status and recent results of the SST-1M telescopes were presented at the CTAO Science Symposium in Bologna. Bastien Lacave, member of the SST-1M consortium, presented poster to the general audience, emhasizing achievemts reached with the telescopes operation in stereo mode and future prospects for scientific observations. [ View the poster ] [ CTAO Science Symposium 2024 – website ] Photo: archive of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
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