Cosmology Large Angular Scale Surveyor (CLASS)

Website

Location:

Atacama Desert in Chile

Purpose:

CLASS will image the cosmic microwave background, detecting patterns from the early inflation of the universe and the formation of stars and galaxies. CLASS will map more than 70% of the sky. 

NIST’s role:

Provided electronics. 

Significant discoveries:

Demonstrated a novel signal modulation technique in an effort to reduce systemic errors to improve data quality and fidelity. 

Other interesting facts:

At 5,200 meters (17,000 feet), it's one of the highest telescopes in the world. The high and dry site limits the negative impacts of microwave emissions from water and oxygen molecules in the atmosphere.

Supported by:

National Science Foundation and NASA

Operated by:

Johns Hopkins University

Other team institutions:

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, University of British Columbia, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Pontificia Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Chile, University of Michigan and Villanova University