In Search of Cherenkov light

Star trails arc across the night in this photo sequence from the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the Canary island of La Palma. The moving stars are also reflected from one of a pair of 17 meter diameter, multi-mirrored MAGIC telescopes. The MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov) telescope is intended to observe gamma rays indirectly by detecting brief flashes of optical light, called Cherenkov light.