Original publication

MAGIC Web page

Press release text

• English
• German
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• Catalan
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Contact persons

Dr. Daniel Mazin
Institut de Física d'Altes Energies
Tel.: +34 93 581-4988
E-mail: mazin@ifae.es

Dr. Robert Wagner
Max Planck Institute for Physics, München
Tel.: +49 89 32354-546, +49 179 113 4687
E-mail: robert.wagner@mpp.mpg.de

Prof. Dr. Masahiro Teshima (Spokesperson of the MAGIC Collaboration)
Max Planck Institute for Physics, München
Tel.: +49 89 32354-301
E-mail: masahiro.teshima@mpp.mpg.de

Material for press and journalists

Left figure: The giant radio galaxy Messier 87 (upper left corner) is located in our immediate “cosmic vicinity”, only about 55 million light years away. In the bright outflow of matter from the center of Messier 87, particles are accelerated to near the speed of light. Scientists were now able to show, combining observations from the lowest and highest end of the electromagnetic spectrum, that particle acceleration to the highest energies takes place very close the center of Messier 87. Lower right corner: The 17-meter MAGIC gamma-ray telescope on the Canary island of La Palma during sunset. Using it (and the H.E.S.S. and VERITAS telescope systems), the scientists were able to follow up the evolution of the gamma-ray flux from Messier 87 during the campaign in early 2008.

Picture credit: NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Robert Wagner, MPI für Physik.

Available for download: 2285x2972 500x650

Right figure: The giant radio galaxy Messier 87 is located in our immediate "cosmic vicinity", only about 55 million light years away. In the bright outflow of matter from the center of Messier 87, particles are accelerated to near the speed of light. Scientists were now able to show, combining observations from the lowest and highest end of the electromagnetic spectrum, that particle acceleration to the highest energies takes place very close the center of Messier 87.

Picture credit: NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Available for download: 1222x1276

Picture 2: (suggested for press release)

This time series of radio difference images (with respect to the temporal average image) of the innermost part of M87 shows a substantial brightening of the innermost core region in spring 2008, which coincides with the period of increased very high energy gamma-ray emission.

Available for download: 2833x2417/english 2833x2417/Deutsch

Picture 3: (suggested for press release)

The 17-meter MAGIC telescope along with its twin telescope MAGIC-II on the Canary island of La Palma.

Picture credit: Robert Wagner, MPI für Physik (left)

Available for download: 2840x1408 357x720

Picture 4: (suggested for press release)

The VLBA is a system of ten radio-telescope antennas, each with a dish 25 meters. The VLBA spans more than 8000 km, providing astronomers with the sharpest vision of any telescope on Earth or in space.

Image courtesy of NRAO/AUI and Earth image courtesy of the SeaWiFS Project NASA/GSFC and ORBIMAGE

Available for download: 3103x2326 375x500

Picture 5:

Caption: Shortly after sunset the MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov) telescope atop Roque de los Muchachos on the Canary Island of La Palma is preparing for the nightly observations. With its 17-m diameter reflector, MAGIC is currently the largest gamma-ray telescope world-wide. It detects gamma rays through short light flashes that are produced when gamma rays cross the atmosphere (Cherenkov light).

Copyright: Robert Wagner, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Munich.

Available for download in different sizes: 640x427, 800x534, 1024x683, 1536x1024, 3504x2336.

Further pictures:

Moonlit MAGIC	MAGIC and startrails	The MAGIC telescope	Bird's eye view	MAGIC at dawn
Click on any image for a full resolution 3504x2336 pixel JPG file.

Copyright for the five pictures above: Robert Wagner, Max Planck Institute for Physics, Munich.