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diff --git a/src/content/news/2025-year-in-review-a-message-from-the-ctao-director-general.md b/src/content/news/2025-year-in-review-a-message-from-the-ctao-director-general.md
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+---
+title: "2025 Year in Review: A Message from the CTAO Director General"
+description: "2025 has been a year of profound transformation for the CTAO. We began this journey in January with a historic milestone: officially becoming an ERIC. This marked the official start of the CTAO construction phase. A major step forward.…"
+date: 2025-12-22
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/CTAOHolidaysCard_2025-1600x1066.jpeg
+draft: false
+---
+
+2025 has been a year of profound transformation for the CTAO. We began this journey in January with a historic milestone: [officially becoming an ERIC](https://www.ctao.org/news/the-ctao-becomes-an-eric/). This marked the official start of the CTAO construction phase. A major step forward.
+
+This year we have seen the growth of our staff and the capabilities of our organisation. Across our Central Organisation headquarters in Bologna, the Science Data Management Centre in Zeuthen, CTAO-North in La Palma, and CTAO-South in Chile, [our expanding team](https://www.ctao.org/news/ctao-growth-defines-the-first-quarter-of-2025/) increasingly has the expertise and passion needed to push the project further than ever. We’ve also grown as a global family, [welcoming Switzerland and Croatia as members](https://www.ctao.org/news/switzerland-and-croatia-officially-become-members-of-the-ctao-eric/) of the CTAO ERIC. And this growth will not stop. 
+
+Looking at our sites, their vista is physically changing. At CTAO-North, the LST Collaboration has worked tirelessly and the final three Large-Sized Telescopes are [nearly complete](https://www.ctao.org/news/camera-installation-marks-completion-of-lst-4-construction/) with their inauguration planned for 2026. Meanwhile, the SST and MST Collaborations have also made remarkable progress with the [first telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/news/small-sized-telescopes-pass-readiness-review-to-proceed-to-factory-testing/) expected to be delivered to our southern site in 2026. This is all being done with the support and guidance of the Central Organisation’s Telescope and System Engineering groups.
+
+On the construction front at CTAO-South, [foundations and roads are now under construction](https://www.ctao.org/news/telescope-construction-begins-on-ctaosouth-with-signing-of-major-contract/) with an expected finish date in June. This monumental endeavour was just celebrated in our [CTAO-South Groundbreaking Ceremony](https://www.ctao.org/news/groundbreaking-ceremony-marks-the-beginning-of-ctao-south-array-construction-in-chile/): the final great milestone of 2025. Together with the support of the Computing and Science teams, we will be ready to operate the telescopes and generate first data in 2027, in both the north and southern sites. 
+
+This progress is possible because of the dedicated work of the [Central Organisation staff](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/) across all fronts—including the essential, behind-the-scenes efforts of our Administration and Director’s Office staff, whose support has ensured a smooth transition to the ERIC.
+
+We want to make sure that the CTAO will generate fabulous science but also promote curiosity inspiring everyone from [school children and university students](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ctao-universe_recap-giornatecosmiche-first-activity-7395068031896530946-qOyF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA3CjTEBeNrPV6blg06qU6xRGyhihLj1oO4) to [citizens and scientific leaders](https://www.ctao.org/news/ctao-joins-the-starmus-festival-2025-in-la-palma/). This year we held the [second CTAO summer school](https://www.instagram.com/p/DN2rurB1MDz/) and awarded the [first Werner Hofmann Scientific Award](https://www.ctao.org/news/shotaro-abe-wins-first-werner-hofmann-scientific-award/) to an outstanding early career researcher.
+
+2025 was a year of new starts and building foundations; in 2026 we will build further.
+
+On behalf of the CTAO, I would like to thank our teams and partners around the world for their continued support and the opportunity to continue this journey together.
+
+I wish you all a very happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
+
+**Stuart McMuldroch
+**CTAO Director General
diff --git a/src/content/news/aes-andes-announces-cancellation-of-inna-the-industrial-complex-planned-near-paranal.md b/src/content/news/aes-andes-announces-cancellation-of-inna-the-industrial-complex-planned-near-paranal.md
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+++ b/src/content/news/aes-andes-announces-cancellation-of-inna-the-industrial-complex-planned-near-paranal.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+title: "AES Andes Announces Cancellation of INNA, the Industrial Complex Planned Near Paranal"
+description: "On 23 January, AES Andes announced on their website that they have cancelled plans to build the INNA Project, an industrial green hydrogen and green ammonia project planned near the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Paranal…"
+date: 2026-02-03
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/DSC7159-CC-768x512.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 23 January, AES Andes announced [on their website](https://www.aesandes.com/en/press-release/aes-andes-focus-renewables-and-storage-discontinues-green-hydrogen-development) that they have cancelled plans to build the INNA Project, an industrial green hydrogen and green ammonia project planned near the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Paranal Observatory, to focus on their renewable energy portfolio instead. Formal confirmation will arrive once the project is officially withdrawn from Chile’s Environmental Assessment Service (SEA, in Spanish).
+
+Last year, ESO publicly [raised the alarm](https://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/news/eso2501/?lang) about the threat that the INNA megaproject posed to the Paranal Observatory, a site renowned for having the world’s darkest and clearest skies for astronomy and the location of the [CTAO’s southern hemisphere array (CTAO-South)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/). The project, proposed by AES Andes, a subsidiary of the U.S. power company AES Corporation, involved multiple energy and processing facilities spread over an area of more than 3,000 hectares, the size of a small city. Its planned location was situated just [a few kilometres from the Paranal telescopes](https://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/images/INNA-map-EN/). An in-depth [technical analysis issued by ESO](https://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/news/eso2506/) in March 2025 revealed that INNA’s impact would cause devastating and irreversible damage, particularly regarding light pollution, micro-vibrations, dust, and an increase of the air turbulence in the area.
+
+“While we await the company’s official withdrawal from SEA, we very much welcome this announcement. I would like to extend my deep and sincere appreciation to everyone who advocated for the protection of Paranal’s pristine skies,” says Stuart McMuldroch, CTAO Director General. “The CTAO remains committed to the preservation of dark and quiet skies, and we will continue collaborating with our hosting partners at ESO towards that goal.”
+
+Reflecting on the announced cancellation, ESO has also emphasised the broader lessons this situation provides regarding industrial projects near astronomical facilities. In [their press release](https://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/news/eso2602/), they note that “the INNA case and its [proposed location](https://www.eso.org/public/images/INNA-map-EN/) highlight the urgent need to establish clear protection measures in the areas around astronomical observatories. Such measures are essential to allow astronomical observatories to continue operating.” Safeguarding this natural heritage is vital not only for future generations but also for the continued exploration of the Universe by cutting-edge facilities like the CTAO.
+
+Safeguarding this natural heritage is vital not only for future generations but also for the continued exploration of the Universe by cutting-edge facilities like the CTAO.
diff --git a/src/content/news/camera-installation-marks-completion-of-lst-4-construction.md b/src/content/news/camera-installation-marks-completion-of-lst-4-construction.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/camera-installation-marks-completion-of-lst-4-construction.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+---
+title: "Camera Installation Marks Completion of LST-4 Construction"
+description: "On 22 May, the CTAO LST Collaboration reached another major milestone with the successful installation of the camera for LST-4, one of the three Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) under construction at the CTAO-North site on La Palma, Spain.…"
+date: 2025-05-29
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/LST4Camera-1600x1200.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 22 May, the [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) reached another major milestone with the successful installation of the camera for LST-4, one of the three [Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) under construction at the [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) site on La Palma, Spain. The camera installation represents the finalisation of the telescope’s construction and marks its transition to the commissioning phase.
+
+The camera installation was a complex and carefully coordinated procedure. After extensive preparation and alignment work, the nearly two-tonne camera was lifted by crane and secured onto the telescope structure with millimetre precision. The process involved teams from multiple institutions working in synchrony to ensure safety and protect the delicate instrumentation.
+
+The LST-4 camera features a wide field of view of 4,3 degrees and is composed of 1,855 photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). These highly sensitive light detectors convert the faint flashes of Cherenkov light—emitted when high-energy gamma rays interact with Earth’s atmosphere—into digital signals for scientific analysis. Each PMT is paired with a specially designed light guide that enhances efficiency by directing photons toward the detector.
+
+The camera’s internal electronics perform real-time signal analysis using advanced algorithms to identify the characteristic signatures of gamma-ray events. To capture the fleeting Cherenkov flashes associated with these, which last only a few nanoseconds or billionths of a second, the camera rapidly digitises and records the signals at gigahertz (GHz) sampling rates, processing up to a billion data points per second—orders of magnitude faster than conventional cameras.
+
+With the camera now in place, the LST-4 enters its commissioning phase, joining the LST-1, the prototype and the first telescope built on a CTAO site. During commissioning, the telescope will undergo rigorous testing to verify that it meets the CTAO’s scientific and technical requirements. In parallel, the LST Collaboration will continue the construction of the northern hemisphere site’s remaining two LSTs.
+
+Congratulations to all the teams in the LST Collaboration involved in this milestone!
diff --git a/src/content/news/ctao-advances-towards-early-science-in-la-palma-as-lst-collaboration-announces-lst-subarray-inauguration.md b/src/content/news/ctao-advances-towards-early-science-in-la-palma-as-lst-collaboration-announces-lst-subarray-inauguration.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/ctao-advances-towards-early-science-in-la-palma-as-lst-collaboration-announces-lst-subarray-inauguration.md
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+---
+title: "The CTAO Advances Towards Early Science in La Palma as LST Collaboration Announces Inauguration of Large-Sized Telescope Sub-Array"
+description: "(Versión en español abajo) La Palma, Spain, 27 May 2026 — The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), the future world’s largest and most powerful observatory for gamma-ray astronomy, continues its steady advance towards initial…"
+date: 2026-05-27
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/DSC00216_1-1600x1069.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+*(Versión en español abajo)*
+
+**La Palma, Spain, 27 May 2026 —** The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), the future world’s largest and most powerful observatory for gamma-ray astronomy, continues its steady advance towards initial operations. In a joint press conference held in Santa Cruz de La Palma, Canary Islands (Spain), representatives from the [CTAO Central Organisation](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/) (CTAO ERIC), the [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/), the Cabildo de La Palma, and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) came together to underscore the project’s advancement towards groundbreaking science, a progress marked by the upcoming inauguration of the four [Large-Sized Telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) (LSTs) on 15 October 2026 at the [CTAO-North](https://ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) site.
+
+The press event was held to coincide with the [CTAO ERIC Council](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/) meeting on the island, which brought together delegates from more than 10 countries, including current and prospective CTAO ERIC members. It featured the Vice-President of the Cabildo de La Palma,  Juan Ramón Felipe San Antonio; the Director of the IAC, Valentín Martínez; the President of the CTAO ERIC Council, Francisco Colomer; the CTAO Project Scientist, Roberta Zanin; and the Chair of the LST Collaboration’s Steering Committee, Juan Cortina.
+
+The Vice President conveyed the greetings of the President of the Cabildo de La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, and emphasised the absolute support of this administration for all the technological and scientific advancements taking place on La Palma through the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM, in Spanish), managed by the IAC.
+
+“It is an honour for our island to welcome the delegations and organisations from the countries of the CTAO. This meeting and these telescopes serve as confirmation that La Palma remains, in its own right, one of the science capitals of the world and one of the clearest windows for looking at the sky,” the Vice President stated, highlighting that “the sky over La Palma possesses exceptional conditions, protected by law, which have turned the ORM into a sanctuary for the study of the Universe.” Felipe San Antonio reiterated that “the deep-rooted connection the people of La Palma have with astronomy marks our very identity; we know how to look to the sky, as well as to the future.”
+
+For his part, the Director of the IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet, stressed that the inauguration of these magnificent telescopes has been made possible thanks to inter-institutional collaboration and public support: “Hosting this meeting this week is confirmation that La Palma is a global benchmark in astrophysics and that the relationship between society and public administrations is a true model of success.” Specifically, he pointed out that “within this network, this is manifested in the support the Spanish government has given to the construction of these telescopes using FEDER (European Regional Development Fund) funds; coupled with the support of the Canary Islands Government and the Cabildo de La Palma.”
+
+“It is an absolute pleasure to gather our international delegations at the CTAO’s northern hemisphere site to witness our rapid advancement firsthand,” stated Francisco Colomer, President of the CTAO ERIC Council and Programs Director for the Spanish Deputy Directorate General for International Consortia, Organisms and Research Infrastructures. “As a European organisation, the CTAO has a truly global reach and support, while simultaneously generating a profound national and local impact. For Spain, hosting CTAO-North means spearheading a next-generation scientific endeavour and represents a major strategic commitment to the future of European astrophysics.”
+
+The construction of the Observatory is progressing at an exceptional pace. As the CTAO moves closer to initial operations and its first scientific results, the Central Organisation is rapidly expanding its workforce on the island. Since 2025 alone, the team has welcomed five new members, including several native La Palma professionals, with further employment opportunities planned for 2026 and 2027.
+
+“With the rapid advancement of the CTAO-North array, we are getting closer to opening a completely new window to the extreme Universe, giving us the ability to answer some of the most exciting questions in astronomy, such as the nature of dark matter,” highlighted Roberta Zanin, CTAO Project Scientist. “Moreover, we are committed to ensuring our La Palma neighbours are part of this endeavour through outreach and education programmes, so they can participate in and feel proud of the unprecedented science that will be conducted on the island.”
+
+As a testament to this commitment, this May alone the Observatory co-organised the [“Women of CTAO” event](https://www.ctao.org/news/ctao-and-cabildo-of-la-palma-organise-women-of-ctao-2026/) with the Cabildo de La Palma, held the international CTAO School, bringing doctoral students from across the globe to the island, and celebrated the successful internship of a local vocational training student.
+
+Alongside these community initiatives, the Observatory’s technological development continues to advance rapidly. A prime example is the work of the LST Collaboration, an international team of more than 500 members worldwide. The Collaboration is responsible for designing and building the LSTs, the largest of CTAO’s three classes of telescopes, and is now in the final stages of construction — a process that has also delivered a tangible socio-economic impact on La Palma, with over 30 local companies contracted during this phase. In October, the official inauguration of the four LSTs will take place at CTAO-North, a major announcement made during the press conference.
+
+“The upcoming inauguration is a historic milestone for the future of the Observatory, but especially for the LST Collaboration,” explained Juan Cortina, Chair of the Steering Committee of the LST Collaboration. “Our teams of scientists and engineers have worked tirelessly for years to reach this point. This celebration is the crowning achievement at the end of the construction phase, and we are thrilled to celebrate it together with partners from all over the world, including high-level institutional representatives and world-renowned scientists, such as Nobel Laureate Takaaki Kajita.”
+
+Importantly, the October inauguration is not the final step, but rather the gateway towards the realisation of the Observatory. Following this achievement, the LST Collaboration will continue working on technical tests required before the telescopes can be formally accepted and operated by the Central Organisation. Once accepted, they will be fully integrated within the CTAO-North array, which will also eventually feature [Medium-Sized Telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/mst/) (MSTs).
+
+Following the press conference, the international CTAO ERIC delegates will visit the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory to experience the project’s scale and impact in person. The visit to the CTAO-North site will be led by Patricia Márquez, CTAO-North Station Manager, whilst the detailed tour of the LSTs will be guided by Daniel Mazin, Project Manager of the LST Collaboration.
+
+With the imminent inauguration of the LSTs, organised by the LST Collaboration, and the steady expansion of the Central Organisation’s operations and team on the island, the CTAO stands on the threshold of a new era in gamma-ray astronomy. The path to unprecedented discoveries has officially begun, and La Palma is at the very heart of it.
+
+The CTAO (Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory; www.ctao.org) will be the world’s largest and most powerful observatory for gamma-ray astronomy. The CTAO’s unparalleled accuracy and broad energy range (20 GeV- 300 TeV) will help to address some of the most perplexing questions in astrophysics, falling under three major themes: understanding the origin and role of relativistic cosmic particles; probing extreme environments, such as black holes or neutron stars; and exploring frontiers in physics, searching for dark matter or deviations from Einstein’s theory of relativity. Additionally, the CTAO will play a key role in both multi-wavelength and multi-messenger fields in the coming decades thanks to its enhanced performance, which will allow it to provide fundamental gamma-ray information in the quest to probe the most extreme scenarios.
+
+The CTAO is a European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Landmark project, one of the “Magnificent Seven” of ASPERA’s European strategy for astroparticle physics and a top-ranked priority amongst new ground-based infrastructure projects for 2022-2035 in ASTRONET’s roadmap.
+
+To cover its broad energy range, the CTAO will use three types of telescopes: the Large-Sized Telescopes (LST), the Medium-Sized Telescopes (MST) and the Small-Sized Telescopes (SST). More than 60 telescopes will be distributed between two telescope array sites: CTAO-North in the northern hemisphere at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias’ (IAC’s) Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma (Spain), and CTAO-South in the southern hemisphere at the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert (Chile). The Headquarters of the CTAO is hosted by the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) in Bologna (Italy), and the Science Data Management Centre (SDMC) is hosted by the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY in Zeuthen (Germany).
+
+The CTAO is a Big Data project. The Observatory will generate hundreds of petabytes (PB) of data in a year (~12 PB after compression). Based on its commitment to Open Science, the CTAO will be the first gamma-ray observatory of its kind to operate as an open, proposal-driven observatory providing public access to its high-level science data and software products.
+
+The CTAO Central Organisation (legally, the CTAO ERIC) is in charge of the construction and operation of the Observatory and manages the four sites. Thus, it is made up of the groups and people dedicated to the management and administration of the Observatory’s development and the overall project, science, computing or systems engineering activities, among others. The CTAO ERIC is financially supported by a growing list of countries and organisations. The CTAO ERIC members include Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. Further countries — Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and the United States — are engaged in the process of joining the CTAO ERIC as Strategic Partners or Third Parties.
+
+This group works in close cooperation with partners from around the world toward the development of the Observatory. Major partners include In-Kind Contribution Collaborations (IKC) that are developing essential hardware and software, in addition to the CTAO Consortium, an international group of researchers who works on the scientific exploitation of the Observatory. Among the IKC is the CTAO LST Collaboration, in charge of developing the Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs).
+
+When gamma rays interact with Earth’s atmosphere, they generate cascades of particles that produce Cherenkov light. Because lower-energy gamma rays create only small amounts of Cherenkov light, telescopes with large collection areas are needed to detect it. The LST, with its 23-meter diameter dish, will provide the CTAO’s unique sensitivity in the low-energy range between 20 GeV and 3 TeV.
+
+Despite standing 45 meters tall and weighing 100 tonnes, each LST can reposition to any point in the sky within 20 seconds. Both this rapid repositioning and the low-energy threshold of the LSTs are critical for the CTAO’s studies of galactic transients, high-redshift active galactic nuclei, and gamma-ray bursts.
+
+The CTAO LST Collaboration is responsible for designing and building these telescopes. It is made up of more than 500 scientists and engineers from 25 institutions across 11 countries: Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.
+
+Alba Fernández-Barral, CTAO Chief Communications Officer
+
+[alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org](mailto:Alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org) (English, Spanish, Italian)
+
++39-051-6357-270
+
+For convenience, the links to the most up-to-date content are provided below. Unless otherwise noted, the appropriate credit for the CTAO content is “CTAO.” Please read the [media usages guidelines](https://www.ctao.org/news-resources/media-library/media-usage/) on our website.
+
+> Photos from the event – [Link to Folder](https://ctaoobservatory.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/ctao-outreach/IgCZLenTv8sGR6-CZ33bRD3OAXcZHJp3OgHyxD_Rl-vBaWw?e=OUduw5) (credit: IAC)
+
+> [LST-1 Timelapse](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/CTAO_Emission_LightHunters.mp4) (Credit: Daniel Lopez and CTAO)
+
+> “Exploring the Universe at the Highest Energies with the CTAO” Film – [Link to Download](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/Exploring-the-Universe-at-the-Highest-Energies-with-the-CTAO.mp4) & [Link To YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv-JyExCq7Y)
+
+> How CTAO Works Science Animation – [Link to Download](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/How_CTAO_Works.mp4) & [Link to YouTube](https://youtu.be/5gRHFQP_SjU?si=7hYdLrUJcWL4NF7A)
+
+Go to [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctao-universe/albums) for more images and to the [Media Library](https://www.ctao.org/news-resources/media-library/) for more video clips.
+
+### El CTAO avanza hacia los primeros resultados científicos en La Palma mientras la Colaboración LST anuncia la inauguración del subconjunto de los telescopios grandes
+
+**La Palma, España, 28 de mayo de 2026** — El [Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO)](https://www.ctao.org/), el futuro observatorio de astronomía de rayos gamma más grande y potente del mundo, continúa su avance constante hacia su fase de operaciones iniciales. En una rueda de prensa conjunta celebrada en Santa Cruz de La Palma, Islas Canarias (España), representantes de la [Organización Central del CTAO](https://www.ctao.org/es/organisation/team/) (CTAO ERIC), la [Colaboración LST del CTAO](https://www.ctao.org/es/partners/in-kind-contributors/), el Cabildo de La Palma y el Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) se reunieron para destacar el avance del proyecto hacia una ciencia pionera. Este progreso está marcado por la próxima inauguración de los [cuatro Large-Sized Telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) (LST, los telescopios grandes) el 15 de octubre de 2026 en el emplazamiento [CTAO-Norte](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/).
+
+El evento de prensa se celebró coincidiendo con la reunión del [Consejo del CTAO ERIC](https://www.ctao.org/es/organisation/governance/) en la isla, que agrupó a delegados de más de 10 países, incluyendo miembros actuales y potenciales del CTAO ERIC. Contó con la presencia del Vice-Presidente del Cabildo de La Palma, Juan Ramón Felipe San Antonio; el Director del IAC, Valentín Martínez; el Presidente del Consejo del CTAO ERIC, Francisco Colomer; la Responsable Científica del CTAO, Roberta Zanin; y el Presidente del Comité Directivo de la Colaboración LST, Juan Cortina.
+
+El vicepresidente trasladó el saludo del presidente del Cabildo de La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez, e insistió en el apoyo absoluto de esta administración a todos los avances tecnológicos y científicos que tienen lugar en La Palma a través del Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, del Instituto de Astrofísico de Canarias. “Para nuestra isla es un honor recibir a las delegaciones y organizaciones de los países del CTAO. Esta reunión y estos telescopios son la constatación de que La Palma sigue siendo, por derecho propio, una de las capitales mundiales de la ciencia y una de las ventanas más nítidas para mirar al cielo”, aseguró el vicepresidente y remarcó que “el cielo de La Palma posee unas condiciones excepcionales, protegidas por la Ley, que ha convertido al ORM en un santuario para el estudio del Universo”. Felipe San Antonio reiteró “el arraigo de los palmeros con la astronomía marca nuestra propia identidad, sabemos mirar al cielo y también al futuro”.
+
+Por su parte, el director del IAC, Valentín Martínez Pillet insistió en que la inauguración de estos magníficos telescopios es posible gracias a la colaboración interinstitucional y al apoyo social. “La celebración de esta reunión esta semana es la constatación de que La Palma es un referente mundial en Astrofísica y que la relación entre sociedad y administraciones es todo un modelo de éxito”, explicó Martínez Pillet. En concreto, expuso que “en esta red se manifiesta en el apoyo del Gobierno de España ha dado a la construcción de estos telescopios con fondos Feder; a lo que se suma el apoyo del Gobierno de Canarias y del Cabildo de La Palma”.
+
+“Es un absoluto placer reunir a nuestras delegaciones internacionales en el emplazamiento del hemisferio norte del CTAO para presenciar de primera mano nuestro rápido avance”, afirmó Francisco Colomer, Presidente del Consejo del CTAO ERIC y Director de Programas de la Subdirección General de Consorcios, Organismos e Infraestructuras de Investigación Internacionales de España. “Como organización europea, el CTAO tiene un alcance y un apoyo verdaderamente globales, al mismo tiempo que genera un profundo impacto nacional y local. Para España, albergar CTAO-Norte significa liderar un esfuerzo científico de próxima generación y representa un gran compromiso estratégico para el futuro de la astrofísica europea.”
+
+La construcción del Observatorio avanza a un ritmo excepcional. A medida que el CTAO se acerca a sus operaciones iniciales y a sus primeros resultados científicos, la Organización Central está ampliando rápidamente su plantilla en la isla. Desde 2025, el equipo ha dado la bienvenida a cinco nuevos miembros, incluyendo varios profesionales nativos de La Palma, con más oportunidades de empleo previstas para 2026 y 2027.
+
+“Con el rápido avance de CTAO-Norte, estamos cada vez más cerca de abrir una ventana completamente nueva al Universo extremo, brindándonos la capacidad de responder a algunas de las preguntas más emocionantes de la astronomía, como la naturaleza de la materia oscura”, destacó Roberta Zanin, Responsable Científica del CTAO. “Además, estamos comprometidos a garantizar que nuestros vecinos de La Palma formen parte de este progreso a través de programas de divulgación y educación, para que puedan participar y sentirse orgullosos de la ciencia sin precedentes que se llevará a cabo en la isla.”
+
+Como prueba de este compromiso, tan solo en este mes de mayo, el Observatorio coorganizó el [evento “Women of CTAO](https://www.ctao.org/news/ctao-and-cabildo-of-la-palma-organise-women-of-ctao-2026/)” con el Cabildo de La Palma, celebró la escuela internacional “CTAO School”, atrayendo a la isla a estudiantes de doctorado de todo el mundo, y celebró el éxito de las prácticas de una estudiante local de formación profesional.
+
+Paralelamente a estas iniciativas comunitarias, el desarrollo tecnológico del Observatorio sigue avanzando rápidamente. Un claro ejemplo es el trabajo de la Colaboración LST, un equipo internacional de más de 500 miembros de todo el mundo. La Colaboración es responsable de diseñar y construir los LST, el mayor de los tres tipos de telescopios del CTAO, que ahora se encuentran en las etapas finales de construcción — un proceso que también ha tenido un impacto socioeconómico tangible en La Palma, con la contratación de más de 30 empresas locales durante esta fase. En octubre tendrá lugar la inauguración oficial de los cuatro LST en CTAO-Norte, un importante anuncio realizado durante la conferencia de prensa.
+
+“La próxima inauguración es un hito histórico para el futuro del Observatorio, pero especialmente para la Colaboración LST”, explicó Juan Cortina, Presidente del Comité Directivo de la Colaboración LST. “Nuestros equipos de científicos e ingenieros han trabajado incansablemente durante años para llegar a este punto. Este logro culmina la fase de construcción y estamos encantados de celebrarlo junto a socios de todo el mundo, incluyendo representantes institucionales de alto nivel y científicos de renombre mundial, como el Premio Nobel Takaaki Kajita.”
+
+Es importante destacar que la inauguración de octubre no es el paso final, sino más bien un paso clave hacia la materialización del Observatorio. Tras este logro, la Colaboración LST continuará trabajando en las pruebas técnicas necesarias para que los telescopios puedan ser aceptados y operados oficialmente por la Organización Central. Una vez aceptados, se integrarán completamente en la red de CTAO-Norte, que en un futuro también contará con [Medium-Sized Telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/mst/) (MST, telescopios de tamaño medio).
+
+Tras la conferencia de prensa, las delegaciones internacionales del CTAO ERIC visitarán el Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos para presenciar en persona la magnitud y el impacto del proyecto. La visita al emplazamiento CTAO-Norte será dirigida por Patricia Márquez, Responsable de la Estación CTAO-Norte, mientras que el recorrido detallado de los telescopios LST será guiado por Daniel Mazin, Gerente de Proyecto de la Colaboración LST.
+
+Con la inminente inauguración de los LST, organizada por la Colaboración LST, y la constante expansión de las operaciones y del equipo de la Organización Central en la isla, el CTAO se encuentra en el umbral de una nueva era en la astronomía de rayos gamma. El camino hacia descubrimientos sin precedentes ha comenzado oficialmente, y La Palma se encuentra en el corazón del mismo.
+
+El CTAO (Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory; www.ctao.org) será el observatorio de astronomía de rayos gamma más grande y potente del mundo. La incomparable precisión y el amplio rango de energía del CTAO (20 GeV – 300 TeV) ayudarán a abordar algunas de las preguntas más emocionantes de la astrofísica, las cuales se agrupan en [tres temas principales](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/science/study-themes/):
+
+-Comprender el origen y el papel de las partículas cósmicas relativistas.
+
+-Investigar entornos extremos, como los agujeros negros o las estrellas de neutrones.
+
+-Explorar las fronteras de la física, buscando materia oscura o desviaciones de la teoría de la relatividad de Einstein.
+
+Además, el CTAO desempeñará un papel clave en la astronomía multionda y multimensajero en las próximas décadas gracias a su mayor rendimiento, lo que le permitirá proporcionar información fundamental sobre los rayos gamma en la búsqueda por explorar los escenarios más extremos.
+
+El CTAO es un proyecto Landmark del Foro Estratégico Europeo sobre Infraestructuras de Investigación (ESFRI), uno de los “Siete Magníficos” de la estrategia europea de astrofísica de partículas de ASPERA, y una de las principales prioridades entre los nuevos proyectos de infraestructura terrestre para el período 2022-2035 en la hoja de ruta de ASTRONET.
+
+Para cubrir su amplio rango de energía, el CTAO utilizará [tres tipos de telescopios](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/): los Large-Sized Telescopes (LST, telescopios grandes), los Medium-Sized Telescopes (MST, telescopios de tamaño medio) y los Small-Sized Telescopes (SST, telescopios pequeños).
+
+Más de 60 telescopios se distribuirán entre los dos emplazamientos de telescopios: [CTAO-Norte](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/), ubicado en el hemisferio norte en el Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos del Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) en La Palma (España), y [CTAO-Sur](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/), localizado en el hemisferio sur en el Observatorio Paranal del Observatorio Europeo Austral (ESO) en el Desierto de Atacama (Chile). La [sede central](https://www.ctao.org/es/organisation/facilities/) del CTAO está albergada por el Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) en Bolonia (Italia), y el [Centro de Gestión de Datos Científicos](https://www.ctao.org/es/organisation/facilities/) (SDMC) tiene su sede en el campus de Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY en Zeuthen (Alemania).
+
+El CTAO es un [proyecto de Big Data.](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/data-and-computing/) El Observatorio generará cientos de petabytes (PB) de datos al año (~12 PB tras la compresión). Basado en su compromiso con la Ciencia Abierta, el CTAO será el primer observatorio de rayos gamma terrestre en operar como un observatorio abierto e impulsado por propuestas de observación, proporcionando acceso público a sus datos científicos de alto nivel y productos de software.
+
+La Organización Central del CTAO (legalmente, el CTAO ERIC — Consorcio Europeo de Infraestructuras de Investigación) está a cargo de la construcción y operación del Observatorio, y gestiona las cuatro sedes. Así, está compuesta por los grupos y personas dedicados a la gestión y administración del desarrollo del Observatorio y de las actividades generales del proyecto, ciencia, computación o ingeniería de sistemas, entre otros. El CTAO ERIC cuenta con el respaldo financiero de una lista creciente de países y organizaciones. Los miembros del CTAO ERIC incluyen Alemania, Austria, Croacia, Eslovenia, España, Francia, Italia, el Observatorio Europeo Austral (ESO), Polonia, la República Checa y Suiza. Otros países —Australia, Brasil, Estados Unidos, Japón y Sudáfrica— están en proceso de unirse al CTAO ERIC como Socios Estratégicos o Terceras Partes.
+
+La Organización Central trabaja en estrecha cooperación con grupos socios de todo el mundo para el desarrollo del Observatorio. Los principales socios incluyen las Colaboraciones de Contribuciones en Especie (IKC, por sus siglas en inglés), que están desarrollando hardware y software esenciales, además del Consorcio CTAO, un grupo internacional de investigadores que trabaja en la explotación científica del Observatorio. Entre las IKC se encuentra la Colaboración LST del CTAO, encargada de desarrollar los LST.
+
+Cuando los [rayos gamma interactúan con la atmósfera terrestre](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/science/how-ctao-works/), generan cascadas de partículas que producen luz Cherenkov. Debido a que los rayos gamma de menor energía crean solo pequeñas cantidades de luz Cherenkov, se necesitan telescopios con grandes áreas colectoras para detectarla. El LST, con su reflector de 23 metros de diámetro, proporcionará la sensibilidad única del CTAO en el rango de baja energía entre 20 GeV y 3 TeV.
+
+A pesar de sus 45 metros de altura y un peso de 100 toneladas, cada LST puede reposicionarse para apuntar a cualquier punto del cielo en tan solo 20 segundos. Tanto este rápido reposicionamiento como el bajo umbral de energía de los LST son críticos para los estudios del CTAO sobre eventos transitorios galácticos, núcleos activos de galaxias lejanas y estallidos de rayos gamma.
+
+La Colaboración LST del CTAO es responsable de diseñar y construir estos telescopios. Está formada por más de 500 científicos e ingenieros de 25 instituciones distribuidas en 11 países: Alemania, Brasil, Bulgaria, Croacia, España, Francia, Italia, Japón, Polonia, República Checa y Suiza.
+
+Dr. Alba Fernández-Barral, Directora de Comunicación del CTAO
+
+[alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org](mailto:alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org) (español, inglés e italiano)
+
++39-051-6357-270
+
+Para su comodidad, a continuación se proporcionan los enlaces al contenido más actualizado. A menos que se indique lo contrario, el crédito correspondiente para el contenido es “CTAO”. Por favor, consulte [las normas de uso](https://www.ctao.org/es/news-resources/media-library/media-usage/) en nuestra web.
+
+> Fotos del evento – [Enlace a la carpeta](https://ctaoobservatory.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/ctao-outreach/IgCZLenTv8sGR6-CZ33bRD3OAXcZHJp3OgHyxD_Rl-vBaWw?e=OUduw5) (Crédito: )
+
+> [LST-1 Timelapse](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/CTAO_Emission_LightHunters.mp4) (Crédito: Daniel Lopez y CTAO)
+
+> [Folleto Divulgativo](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/Brochure_Spanish_0704.pdf)
+
+> [Animación Científica](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/How_CTAO_Works.mp4)
+
+> [“Exploring the Universe at the Highest Energies with the CTAO” Film](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/Exploring-the-Universe-at-the-Highest-Energies-with-the-CTAO.mp4)
+
+Ve a [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctao-universe/albums) para más imágenes y a la [Media Library](https://www.ctao.org/news-resources/media-library/) (Biblioteca multimedia) para más clips de video.
diff --git a/src/content/news/ctao-and-cabildo-of-la-palma-organise-women-of-ctao-2026.md b/src/content/news/ctao-and-cabildo-of-la-palma-organise-women-of-ctao-2026.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/ctao-and-cabildo-of-la-palma-organise-women-of-ctao-2026.md
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+---
+title: "The CTAO and the Cabildo of La Palma Highlight Local Astronomy Professionals with the Event Women of CTAO: Our Island, Our Science"
+description: "(Versión en español abajo) On Saturday, 16 May 2026, at 11:00 am, the Teatro Chico (C. Díaz Pimienta 1, Santa Cruz de La Palma) will host the sixth edition of “Women of CTAO,” an outreach event that focuses on the women who are making…"
+date: 2026-05-07
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/Banner_Women-of-CTAO-scaled-e1778057208344-1600x801.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+*(Versión en español abajo)*
+
+On Saturday, 16 May 2026, at 11:00 am, the Teatro Chico (C. Díaz Pimienta 1, Santa Cruz de La Palma) will host the sixth edition of “Women of CTAO,” an outreach event that focuses on the women who are making possible one of the most ambitious scientific projects on the planet: [the CTAO](https://www.ctao.org/), the world’s largest observatory for gamma-ray astronomy.
+
+This year, the event will feature three women with ties to La Palma who work at the CTAO-North site, the CTAO’s telescope array located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. In a roundtable discussion format, these three professionals will share their experiences working on the project, offering insights not only into the CTAO itself, but also into their personal and professional journeys.
+
+- Patricia Márquez, site manager for CTAO-North. Originally from Madrid, with an international background, she has lived in La Palma since 2018.
+- Mónica Deza, coordinator of the CTAO-North office. Originally from Buenos Aires, she came to Europe more than 25 years ago. In 2023, she moved to La Palma.
+- Carolina Hernández, manager and safety coordinator for the Large-Sized Telescopes (LST), the CTAO’s largest telescopes, who is originally from La Palma.
+
+“Women of CTAO” is celebrated in collaboration with the [Cabildo de La Palma](https://www.cabildodelapalma.es/es) and [SODEPAL](https://sodepal.es/), establishing it as an initiative that promotes scientific outreach, equal opportunities, and the connection between the public and the major international projects based on the island.
+
+The event will feature the institutional participation of Miriam Perestelo, Councilor for Economic Promotion of the Cabildo of La Palma and Managing Director of SODEPAL, as well as Raquel Rebollo, Councilor for Tourism of the Cabildo of La Palma.
+
+“Recognising and showcasing the fantastic women professionals in the field of astronomy and cutting-edge scientific research that we have here is a task we gladly undertake. It is a pleasure to say that the scientific vanguard is present in La Palma and has talented female voices with much to share and contribute to the economic development of this island,” explains Perestelo.
+
+Raquel Rebollo, Tourism Councilor, considers the event “a window of visibility for La Palma, boosting astrotourism through the life stories of the best ambassadors the sector, in general, and this niche market in particular, could have: its professionals, connecting their work experience with life on the island.”
+
+The conversation will be moderated by Arianne Vera and Joaquín Hernández, students of the Marketing and Advertising vocational training program at IES José María Pérez Pulido (Los Llanos de Aridane), bringing a fresh and youthful perspective to the scientific dialogue. To ensure accessibility, the event will be conducted entirely in Spanish and will include Spanish Sign Language (LSE) interpretation. After the event, attendees can enjoy a networking session in the same location to take the conversation “offstage.” This will be the perfect opportunity to chat directly with the speakers and share impressions in a relaxed atmosphere.
+
+“The ‘Women of CTAO’ event is one of the many initiatives planned to bring the latest developments at our observatory closer to the public, as well as to promote diversity in science,” says Alba Fernández-Barral, CTAO Chief Communications Officer. “Our goal is to provide role models and create real opportunities for next generations, which is why the participation and moderation by students from the IES José María Pérez Pulido is so important to us. We are thrilled to be holding the sixth edition here and are immensely grateful to the La Palma Island Council and SODEPAL for all their support.”
+
+The CTAO will have two arrays of telescopes: one in La Palma (CTAO-North) and another in Chile (CTAO-South). As the Observatory moves into the scientific operations phase, the teams on the island are growing rapidly, with the addition of five professionals to the CTAO-North team since 2025, [one position currently vacant](https://www.ctao.org/opportunities/career/), and more positions to be added throughout 2026 and 2027.
+
+### El CTAO y el Cabildo de La Palma Ponen en Valor a las Profesionales Locales de Astronomía con el Evento “Women of CTAO: Nuestra Isla, Nuestra Ciencia”
+
+El próximo sábado 16 de mayo a las 11:00 h, el Teatro Chico (C. Díaz Pimienta 1, Santa Cruz de La Palma) acogerá la sexta edición de “Women of CTAO”, un evento de divulgación que pone el foco en las mujeres que están haciendo posible uno de los proyectos científicos más ambiciosos del planeta: [el CTAO, el mayor observatorio del mundo para la astronomía de rayos gamma.](https://www.ctao.org/es/)
+
+Este año, el evento contará con la participación de tres mujeres vinculadas a La Palma que trabajan en el emplazamiento CTAO-Norte, el conjunto de telescopios del CTAO situado en el Roque de los Muchachos. En un formato de mesa redonda conversacional, estas tres profesionales compartirán su experiencia trabajando en el proyecto, acercándonos no solo al CTAO, sino también a sus trayectorias personales y profesionales:
+
+- Patricia Márquez, responsable del emplazamiento CTAO-Norte. Natural de Madrid, con trayectoria internacional, residen en La Palma desde 2018.
+- Mónica Deza, coordinadora de la oficina CTAO-Norte. Natural de Buenos Aires, se vino a Europa hace más de 25 años. En el 2023, se mudó a La Palma.
+- Carolina Hernández, administradora y coordinadora de seguridad de los Large-Sized Telescopes (LST), los telescopios más grandes del CTAO, natural de La Palma.
+
+“Women of CTAO” se celebra en colaboración con el [Cabildo de La Palma](https://www.cabildodelapalma.es/es) y [SODEPAL](https://sodepal.es/), consolidándose como una iniciativa que promueve la divulgación científica, la igualdad de oportunidades y la conexión entre la ciudadanía y los grandes proyectos internacionales que tienen sede en la isla.
+
+El acto contará con la participación institucional de Miriam Perestelo, consejera de Promoción Económica del Cabildo de La Palma y consejera delegada de SODEPAL, así como de Raquel Rebollo, consejera de Turismo del Cabildo de La Palma.
+
+“El reconocimiento y la visibilidad de las fantásticas profesionales del ámbito de la astronomía y la más alta investigación científica con que contamos es una tarea que asumimos con mucho gusto. Es un placer contar que la vanguardia científica está presente en La Palma y tiene voces femeninas llenas de talento y de cosas que contar y aportar al desarrollo económico de esta isla”, explica Perestelo.
+
+Raquel Rebollo, consejera de Turismo, considera el evento como “una ventana de visibilidad hacia La Palma, impulsando el astroturismo a partir de las historias de vida de las mejores embajadoras que puede tener el sector, en general, y este nicho de mercado en particular, sus profesionales al poner en relación su experiencia laboral con la vida en la isla”.
+
+La conversación será moderada por Arianne Vera y Joaquín Hernández, alumnos del ciclo de FP de Marketing y Publicidad del IES José María Pérez Pulido (Los Llanos de Aridane), aportando una mirada fresca y joven al diálogo científico. Para garantizar la accesibilidad, el evento se desarrollará íntegramente en español y contará con interpretación a lengua de signos española (LSE). Tras el evento, los asistentes podrán disfrutar de un espacio de *networking* en el mismo teatro para llevar la conversación “fuera del escenario”. Será el momento ideal para charlar directamente con las ponentes y compartir impresiones en un ambiente distendido.
+
+“El evento “Women of CTAO” es una de las muchas acciones previstas para acercar las novedades de nuestro observatorio a la sociedad y promover la diversidad en la ciencia”, afirma Alba Fernández-Barral, Directora de Comunicación del CTAO. “Nuestro objetivo es ofrecer referentes a las nuevas generaciones y crear oportunidades reales, motivo por el cual la participación y moderación por parte de los estudiantes del IES José María Pérez Pulido es tan importante para nosotros. Nos hace mucha ilusión celebrar la sexta edición aquí y agradecemos inmensamente al Cabildo de La Palma y a Sodepal todo su apoyo”.
+
+El CTAO contará con dos conjuntos de telescopios: uno en La Palma (CTAO-Norte) y otro en Chile (CTAO-Sur). A medida que el Observatorio avanza hacia la fase de operaciones científicas, los equipos en la isla están creciendo rápidamente, con la incorporación de cinco profesionales al equipo de CTAO-Norte desde 2025, un [puesto actualmente vacante](https://www.ctao.org/es/opportunities/career/) y más plazas que se sumarán a lo largo de 2026 y 2027.
+
+El CTAO (Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, [https://www.ctao.org/es/](https://www.ctao.org/es/)) será el [observatorio de astronomía de rayos gamma más grande y potente del mundo](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/science/how-ctao-works/). Su precisión sin precedentes y su amplio rango de energía (20 GeV – 300 TeV) ayudarán a responder algunas de las preguntas más complejas de la astrofísica, centradas en [tres grandes temas](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/science/study-themes/): comprender el origen y el papel de las partículas cósmicas relativistas; explorar entornos extremos, como agujeros negros o estrellas de neutrones; y explorar las fronteras de la física, buscando materia oscura o desviaciones de la teoría de la relatividad de Einstein.
+
+Para cubrir su amplio rango de energía, el CTAO utilizará [tres tipos de telescopios](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/): Large-Sized Telescopes (LST), Medium-Sized Telescopes (MST) y Small-Sized Telescopes (SST). Más de 60 telescopios se distribuirán en dos emplazamientos: [CTAO-Norte](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) en el Observatorio del Roque de los Muchacho en La Palma (España), y [CTAO-Sur](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/) en el Desierto de Atacama (Chile). La [sede central](https://www.ctao.org/es/organisation/facilities/) del CTAO se encuentra en Bolonia (Italia) y el Centro de Gestión de Datos Científicos (SDMC) en Zeuthen (Alemania).
+
+El CTAO es un [proyecto de Big Data](https://www.ctao.org/es/emission-to-discovery/data-and-computing/). El Observatorio generará cientos de petabytes (PB) de datos al año (~12 PB tras la compresión). Fiel a su compromiso con la Ciencia Abierta, el CTAO será el primer observatorio de rayos gamma de este tipo en operar de forma abierta y basada en propuestas de observación, proporcionando acceso público a sus datos científicos de alto nivel y software. La comunidad científica española, por ser país anfitrión de los telescopios, contará con un 10% del tiempo de observación reservado para sus investigaciones.
+
+La entidad responsable de la construcción y operación del observatorio CTAO es la llamada [Organización Central del CTAO](https://www.ctao.org/es/organisation/team/) (legalmente, “CTAO ERIC”, Consorcio de Infraestructura de Investigación Europea). Los miembros del CTAO ERIC incluyen a Austria, Croacia, la República Checa, el Observatorio Europeo Austral (ESO), Francia, Alemania, Italia, Polonia, Eslovenia, España y Suiza. Otros países (Australia, Brasil, Japón, Sudáfrica y los Estados Unidos) están en proceso de unirse al CTAO ERIC como Socios Estratégicos o Terceras Partes.
+
+La Organización Central trabaja en estrecha cooperación con socios del proyecto de todo el mundo para el desarrollo del Observatorio. Dentro de los principales socios están las llamadas “[Colaboraciones de Contribución en Especie](https://www.ctao.org/es/partners/in-kind-contributors/)”, grupos internacionales de científicos e ingenieros que desarrollan hardware y software esenciales para el Observatorio. Entre ellos se encuentran las “Colaboraciones de Telescopios” y existe una por cada uno de los tres tipos de telescopios que el CTAO usará (los LSTs, MSTs y SSTs). Actualmente en La Palma, hay cuatro LSTs en diferentes fases de construcción por parte de la Colaboración LST del CTAO. El prototipo de los LSTs, conocido como LST-1, fue inaugurado en 2018 y lleva desde entonces en fase de puesta en marcha. Una vez finalizada la construcción, los telescopios deben pasar un período de pruebas gestionado por la Colaboración del LST, tras lo cual la Organización Central los aceptará y operará como parte del observatorio CTAO. En el futuro, el conjunto de CTAO-Norte contará también con MSTs.
+
+Alba Fernández-Barral, Directora de Comunicación del CTAO
+
+[alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org](mailto:Alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org) (español, inglés o italiano)
+
+Para su comodidad, a continuación se proporcionan los enlaces al contenido más actualizado. A menos que se indique lo contrario, el crédito correspondiente para el contenido es “CTAO”. Por favor, consulte [las normas de uso](https://www.ctao.org/es/news-resources/media-library/media-usage/) en nuestra web.
+
+[Women of CTAO Póster](https://ctaoobservatory.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/ctao-outreach/IQDwEFcryMTCSrc5y7pIflMyAQbSbosJyusxdkIQSL4tWKQ?e=xer44K)
+
+[Nota de Prensa](https://ctaoobservatory.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/ctao-outreach/IQA4UjM2njDMQoLnQ6dvdBu5AWZEf32mTVJgOAMpZQncOhg?e=bYoHJj)
+
+Ediciones Anteriores:
+
+[Women of CTAO Primera Edición – Crédito Tiziana Abegg (CTAO)](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/womenofctao_2019.jpg)
+
+[Women of CTAO Segunda Edición – Crédito Megan Grunewald (CTAO)](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/WoC.jpg)
+
+Vídeos e Información Adicional:
+
+[LST-1 Timelapse](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/CTAO_Emission_LightHunters.mp4) (Crédito: Daniel Lopez y CTAO)
+
+[Folleto CTAO](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/ES_Flyer_Dic25-2.pdf)
+
+[Folleto Divulgativo](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/Brochure_Spanish_0704.pdf)
+
+[Animación Científica](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/How_CTAO_Works.mp4)
diff --git a/src/content/news/ctao-consortium-spring-2025-meeting.md b/src/content/news/ctao-consortium-spring-2025-meeting.md
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/ctao-consortium-spring-2025-meeting.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+---
+title: "CTAO Consortium Spring 2025 Meeting: A Week of Scientific Synergies and News"
+description: "From May 12 to 16, the CTAO Consortium gathered for its spring meeting in Garching, Germany, uniting experts from across the globe to discuss scientific advances, plans, and collaborative opportunities. Hosted by the Max Planck Institute…"
+date: 2025-05-20
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/ConsortiumGroupPicture_May2025-1600x1200.jpeg
+draft: false
+---
+
+From May 12 to 16, the [CTAO Consortium](https://www.ctao.org/partners/ctao-consortium/) gathered for its spring meeting in Garching, Germany, uniting experts from across the globe to discuss scientific advances, plans, and collaborative opportunities. Hosted by the Max Planck Institute for Physics (MPP), this year’s meeting focused on discussing advances for the Observatory, in preparation for the CTAO’s upcoming Data Challenge and the release of its first observational data.
+
+The meeting opened with a comprehensive update from representatives of the [CTAO Central Organisation](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/), which provided an overview of the organisation’s news after its [transition early this year to an ERIC](https://www.ctao.org/news/the-ctao-becomes-an-eric/) (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), a milestone accompanied by rapid progress on the construction of the Observatory’s sites. During this session, the Central Organisation [launched the Werner Hofmann Scientific Award](https://www.ctao.org/news/the-ctao-launches-the-werner-hofmann-scientific-award/), designed to recognise exceptional contributions from PhD fellows in the field. The award pays tribute to Werner Hofmann, who helped shape the vision of the Observatory and led the CTAO Consortium as its Spokesperson for more than 15 years.
+
+As the week unfolded, attendees took part in lively discussions across the Consortium’s key science working groups. In addition, a series of invited talks brought external perspectives to the table:
+
+Dr. Zhen Cao, spokesperson of the LHAASO experiment, shared the latest findings on PeVatrons—cosmic accelerators of ultra-high-energy particles in our Galaxy.
+
+Dr. Marica Branchesi provided an insightful overview of the LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA gravitational wave detectors, whose gravitational wave signals will be followed up by the CTAO to better understand the mechanisms behind these events.
+
+Dr. Antoine Kouchner presented groundbreaking results from the KM3NeT neutrino telescope, which recently recorded the most energetic neutrino ever detected. Neutrinos and gamma rays are complementary messengers that can contribute to reveal the origin of the cosmic rays, one of the main targets of the CTAO.
+
+These speakers, alongside CTAO experts Manuela Vecchi, Ulysses Barres de Almeida, and Masahiro Teshima, took part in a roundtable on Multi-Wavelength and Multi-Messenger astronomy, chaired by CTAO Project Scientist Roberta Zanin. The session underscored the importance of collaboration across observational platforms to unlock the secrets of the high-energy Universe.
+
+One of the most symbolic moments of the week was the official handover of leadership within the Consortium. In a special session, Masahiro Teshima and Thierry Stolarczyk , the recently elected Spokesperson and Co-Spokesperson, were delighted to honour their predecessors Werner Hofmann and Rene Ong, and to reflect on the progress that has been made on the CTAO over the past ten years.
+
+The CTAO Consortium is a global group of more than 1,500 experts in gamma-ray astronomy from 25 countries, who devised the CTAO concept more than a decade ago and have been the driving force behind its design. The spring meeting brought a week of insightful discussions, updates, and scientific engagement.
diff --git a/src/content/news/ctao-finalises-asset-transfer-from-ggmbh-to-eric.md b/src/content/news/ctao-finalises-asset-transfer-from-ggmbh-to-eric.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/ctao-finalises-asset-transfer-from-ggmbh-to-eric.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+title: "CTAO Finalises Asset Transfer from gGmbH to ERIC"
+description: "On 30 September 2025, the transfer of assets from the former legal entity of the Observatory, CTAO gGmbH — a non-profit limited liability company under German law — to its current European Research Infrastructure Consortium, CTAO ERIC, was…"
+date: 2025-10-02
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/AssetTransferAgreement1-768x403.png
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 30 September 2025, the transfer of assets from the former legal entity of the Observatory, CTAO gGmbH — a non-profit limited liability company under German law — to its current European Research Infrastructure Consortium, CTAO ERIC, was formally concluded at a signing event in Munich, Germany, in the presence of a notary. On behalf of the CTAO ERIC, Director General Stuart McMuldroch signed the Asset Transfer Agreement, while Federico Ferrini signed on behalf of the CTAO gGmbH. This agreement initiates the dissolution process of the CTAO gGmbH.
+
+The [establishment of the CTAO ERIC](https://www.ctao.org/news/the-ctao-becomes-an-eric/), a European legal entity established under EU law, took place in January 2025, following the European Commission Implementing Decision. To complete the transition, all assets of the CTAO gGmbH, including equipment, intellectual property, supplier contracts, and employment contracts, were transferred to the CTAO ERIC.
+
+The Asset Transfer Agreement, which formalises the transfer of ownership, was prepared in advance and approved by both the CTAO gGmbH Council and the CTAO ERIC Council, clearing the way for final signature.
+
+With the agreement signed, the CTAO gGmbH has entered the liquidation phase, as stipulated by German law. In this period, the company does not carry out new activities but continues to exist in order to settle outstanding matters before it is formally dissolved.
+
+Ferrini, who was appointed Managing Director of the Observatory in 2018 and served as Co-Managing Director alongside McMuldroch since 2023 to support the transition, has been appointed as liquidator. In this capacity, he will oversee the activities required to complete the dissolution of the CTAO gGmbH.
diff --git a/src/content/news/ctao-receives-commemorative-plaque-celebrating-its-eric-status-under-danish-eu-presidency.md b/src/content/news/ctao-receives-commemorative-plaque-celebrating-its-eric-status-under-danish-eu-presidency.md
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+++ b/src/content/news/ctao-receives-commemorative-plaque-celebrating-its-eric-status-under-danish-eu-presidency.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+---
+title: "The CTAO Receives Commemorative Plaque Celebrating its ERIC Status Under the Danish EU Presidency"
+description: "On 22 October, during the Research and Technology Infrastructure (RTI) Summit 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Francisco Colomer, Chair of the CTAO ERIC Council, received a commemorative plaque from the European Commission on behalf of the…"
+date: 2025-10-24
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/ERICPlateCeremony-scaled-e1761294863228-1600x1250.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 22 October, during the [Research and Technology Infrastructure (RTI) Summit 2025](https://www.rti-summit2025.dk/) in Copenhagen, Denmark, Francisco Colomer, Chair of the CTAO ERIC Council, received a commemorative plaque from the European Commission on behalf of the CTAO, ceremonially recognising the Observatory’s establishment as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). The handover took place during a special ERIC Plate Ceremony held at the summit, organised under the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which celebrated the new ERICs created since the beginning of the year.
+
+Hosted at the Scandic Copenhagen on 22–23 October, the RTI Summit 2025 was inaugurated by Christina Egelund, Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science, José Luis Martínez, Chair of ESFRI, and Morten Meldal, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. The two-day summit brought together EU and national policymakers, RTI experts, industry stakeholders, funding agencies, EU project consortia, and research organisations — including the CTAO — to shape the future of European research and innovation infrastructures and discuss the new European RTI strategy.
+
+The CTAO was formally [established as an ERIC by the European Commission](https://www.ctao.org/news/the-ctao-becomes-an-eric/) in January 2025, marking the official start of its construction phase after successful years of preparation and design — a milestone now celebrated at the ERIC Plate Ceremony. As the world’s largest and most advanced observatory for gamma-ray astronomy, the CTAO will unravel the most energetic phenomena in the Universe, providing open data to a wide scientific community, and strengthening Europe’s global leadership in astrophysics and cutting-edge technology.
+
+In addition to its scientific mission, the CTAO became a [member of the ERIC Forum](https://www.ctao.org/news/the-ctao-joins-the-eric-forum/) in January, joining forces with other European research infrastructures to identify shared challenges, contribute to the development of ERIC regulations, and enhance the visibility, impact, and sustainability of the ERIC community.
+
+While a European organisation, the CTAO’s mission and collaborations extend far beyond the continent, reflecting its global scope and the international support that drives its ambitious scientific goals.
+
+The [CTAO ERIC members](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/) include Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. Further countries — Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and the United States — are engaged in the process of joining the CTAO ERIC as Strategic Partners or Third Parties.
diff --git a/src/content/news/ctao-us-teams-awarded-nearly-4-million-nsf-grant-to-develop-sst-cameras.md b/src/content/news/ctao-us-teams-awarded-nearly-4-million-nsf-grant-to-develop-sst-cameras.md
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/ctao-us-teams-awarded-nearly-4-million-nsf-grant-to-develop-sst-cameras.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+---
+title: "CTAO-US Teams Awarded Nearly $4 Million NSF Grant to Develop Small-Sized Telescope Cameras"
+description: "The U.S. teams involved in the development of the CTAO have been awarded a $3.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to contribute to building and installing ten cameras for the Small-Sized Telescopes (SSTs). Led by the…"
+date: 2025-09-26
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/53487690837_d39a9479b3_k-1600x900.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+The U.S. teams involved in the development of the CTAO have been awarded a $3.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to contribute to building and installing ten cameras for the [Small-Sized Telescopes (SSTs).](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/) Led by the Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the funds will provide light detectors for the telescopes located on the [CTAO-South site in Chile](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/), as well as the readout and control electronics required to operate them.
+
+The SSTs are the smallest of the CTAO’s [three telescope types](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/) that the Observatory will use to cover its broad energy range, from 20 GeV to 300 TeV. They will outnumber the other telescopes, with 37 SSTs planned in the approved Alpha Configuration and spread across several square kilometres on the CTAO-South array. Their large collection area makes them essential for extending CTAO’s sensitivity to the highest TeV energies, enabling study of the most energetic cosmic accelerators in our Galaxy.
+
+“By detecting light trillions of times more energetic than what we can see with our eyes, the CTAO will discover energetic phenomena powered by black holes and exploding stars,” says Justin Vandenbroucke, Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and co-lead of the NSF project. “The SSTs of CTAO-South will have a particularly good view of the inner Galaxy, where these phenomena are abundant.”
+
+The SST’s design permits a compact camera based on silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) sensors. Each camera’s 32 SiPM tiles account for a total of 2,048 pixels, covering a large field of view of approximately 9 degrees. The camera records Cherenkov light in 128-frame movies, with each frame lasting one billionth of a second.
+
+With the new NSF funds, the CTAO-US teams will become significant contributors to the CTAO SST Collaboration, the [In-Kind Contributors](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) responsible for building this class of telescopes. The development and installation of these ten cameras will enhance the Observatory’s capabilities at the highest energies and marks a significant step in the U.S. teams’ participation in the project.
+
+“We are excited to make a significant contribution to the CTAO by providing camera instrumentation for the SSTs in the southern array,” says Manel Errando, Assistant Professor at Washington University in St. Louis and co-lead of the NSF project. “This effort not only brings the CTAO closer to the completion of construction but also secures a pathway for US-based scientists to participate fully and gain access to CTAO data.”
+
+The U.S. members have been deeply involved in the CTAO project since its inception more than a decade ago, contributing across governance, scientific, and technological domains. “The U.S. teams have been an important supporter of the CTAO throughout its history,” said CTAO Director General, Stuart McMuldroch. “We are grateful for their various contributions and look forward to continuing and expanding our work together in this new phase.”
+
+They participated as an Observer in the CTAO gGmbH, the former legal entity of the Observatory prior to the establishment of the [ERIC in January 2025](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/). Negotiations regarding U.S. accession to the ERIC are currently ongoing. Additionally, the CTAO-US teams have been active members of the [CTAO Consortium](https://www.ctao.org/partners/ctao-consortium/), the group dedicated to the science exploitation of the Observatory, holding key managerial positions, including that of Co-Spokesperson.
+
+They are also engaged through [In-Kind Contribution collaborations](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/), with a particular focus on the design of an alternative structural configuration for the [Medium-Sized Telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/mst/), known as Schwarzschild-Couder Telescope (SCT), featuring an innovative dual-mirror optical system. This optical design was first conceived by CTAO-US members in 2006, and a prototype was inaugurated in 2019 at the Whipple Observatory in Arizona. New funds will now enable them to build cameras for the SST, which incorporate the same dual-mirror optical system, and a very similar camera design featuring many of the same components, as the SCT.
diff --git a/src/content/news/groundbreaking-ceremony-marks-the-beginning-of-ctao-south-array-construction-in-chile.md b/src/content/news/groundbreaking-ceremony-marks-the-beginning-of-ctao-south-array-construction-in-chile.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+---
+title: "Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of CTAO-South Array Construction in Chile"
+description: "Paranal, Chile, 17 December 2025 — Representatives from the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and governmental authorities gathered today to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the…"
+date: 2025-12-18
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/CTAO-South-Groundbreaking_1-1600x1040.png
+draft: false
+---
+
+**Paranal, Chile, 17 December 2025 —** Representatives from the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and governmental authorities gathered today to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the CTAO’s southern site, [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/). After years of successful site preparations, the event marked the beginning of construction on the telescope foundations, paving the way for the first telescopes to be completed by the end of 2026. The CTAO will be the world’s largest and most powerful observatory for gamma-ray astronomy, and the first to be built in the Southern Hemisphere. With it, Chile will open a new observational window, exploring the Universe at the highest energies.
+
+The ceremony began at ESO’s Paranal Observatory with opening remarks from Thomas Klein, ESO Director of La Silla Paranal Observatory, followed by speeches made by Stuart McMuldroch, CTAO Director General; Xavier Barcons, ESO Director General; Francisco Colomer, Chair of the CTAO ERIC Council, as well as political authorities, including Ricardo Díaz, Governor of the Antofagasta Region; Valeska Molina, Regional Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for Antofagasta Region; and Alejandra Pizarro, Director of the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID). The event also brought together international partners from the Chilean scientific community and industry, along with CTAO and ESO staff that joined the celebration of this major milestone in the project’s development.
+
+During his remarks, McMuldroch expressed his excitement for this moment, a culmination of years of dedication and international collaboration. “Thanks to the commitment of our partners from around the world and the support of ESO as our hosts here in Chile, we are now turning a vision into reality as construction begins on what will be the most advanced gamma-ray observatory on Earth.”
+
+“We are happy to welcome this innovative facility to ESO’s family. It’s our pleasure to see the start of construction of the southern site of this powerful observatory here at Paranal in Chile’s Atacama Desert — a place with the most pristine skies on Earth. This groundbreaking is a huge milestone for both CTAO and ESO, but also for Chile as this new facility will strengthen the country’s position as a global hub for astronomy,” said Barcons in his speech.
+
+Following the ceremony, participants moved to the CTAO-South site, located 10 kilometres southeast of Paranal in the Atacama Desert, for a symbolic onsite celebration. There, Volker Heinz, CTAO Construction Programme Manager, welcomed the attendees to the site and then the representatives buried a time capsule containing items from Chile and partner countries around the world, symbolising how the work undertaken in Chile will contribute to scientific progress on a global scale. The capsule also included scientific items representing the ultimate goal of the telescopes now under construction: to advance our understanding of the Universe and expand human knowledge.  A commemorative plaque, set upon nearby stones, now marks the location of the buried capsule, beside the future telescope area.
+
+The CTAO, ESO, and Chile [signed agreements](https://www.ctao.org/news/final-agreements-signed-for-cta-southern-hemisphere-site-in-chile/) to have the CTAO southern array hosted at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in 2018. “Paranal is a unique place in the world to study the Universe,” highlighted Heinz during his welcoming speech at CTAO-South, explaining that Paranal is already home to ESO’s VLT — a key instrument in the discoveries recognised by the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics — and the ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope that can be seen under construction in the distance from CTAO-South. “The Atacama Desert now welcomes another world-leading facility, and, in just one year, we expect to have here CTAO telescopes providing the first-ever observations of the gamma-ray sky from Chile.”
+
+To cover its broad energy range — from 20 GeV to 300 TeV, billions of times more energetic than visible light — the CTAO will employ three types of telescopes: the Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs), the Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs), and the Small-Sized Telescopes (SSTs). The current configuration for CTAO-South includes more than 50 telescopes. To give the CTAO a complete view of the night sky, it will have two arrays of telescopes located in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The CTAO-South site in Chile, in tandem with the CTAO-North site in La Palma, Spain, will revolutionize our view of the high-energy Universe.
+
+With its unprecedented sensitivity and precision, the CTAO will help address some of the most fundamental questions in astrophysics. Its research will focus on three key areas: understanding the origin and role of relativistic cosmic particles; probing extreme environments such as black holes and neutron stars; and exploring the frontiers of physics by searching for dark matter and testing the limits of Einstein’s theory of relativity. In addition, the CTAO will play a key role in multi-wavelength and multi-messenger astronomy in the coming decades, providing essential gamma-ray data to complement observations across the entire electromagnetic spectrum and from other cosmic messengers such as neutrinos and gravitational waves.
+
+The CTAO is also a Big Data project, expected to generate hundreds of petabytes of data each year (around 12 PB after compression). Committed to the principles of Open Science, it will be the first gamma-ray observatory to operate as an open, proposal-driven facility, providing public access to its high-level scientific data and software products. Ten per cent of the observing time at CTAO-South is reserved for Chilean scientists, guaranteeing that Chile, as host country, gains direct scientific returns and strengthens its own research capacities through the Observatory’s presence.
+
+As construction begins in the Atacama Desert, today’s ceremony symbolises not only a technological milestone but also a shared commitment from Chile and the international community to push the boundaries of what we know about the most energetic and mysterious corners of the Cosmos.
+
+The [CTAO ERIC](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/) (also known as CTAO Central Organisation) is in charge of the construction and operation of the CTAO. Thus, it is made up of the groups and people dedicated to the management and administration of the Observatory’s development and the overall project, science, computing and systems engineering activities. The high-level organisational structure is broken into five main groups: Director’s Office, On-Site Construction, Project Office, Project Science Office, and Administration Office. The Central Organisation is responsible for managing the [CTAO’s four sites](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/facilities/): the Headquarters hosted by the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) in Bologna (Italy), the Science Data Management Centre hosted by the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY in Zeuthen (Germany) and the [two telescope arrays](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/), CTAO-North at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias’ (IAC’s) Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma (Spain), and CTAO-South, at the ESO’s Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert (Chile).
+
+This group works in close cooperation with [partners](https://www.ctao.org/partners/) from around the world toward the development of the Observatory. Major partners include In-Kind Contribution Collaborations that are developing essential hardware and software, in addition to the CTAO Consortium, an international group of researchers who works on the scientific exploitation of the Observatory.
+
+The [CTAO ERIC members](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/) include Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. Further countries — Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and the United States — are engaged in the process of joining the CTAO ERIC as Strategic Partners or Third Parties.
+
+The European Southern Observatory (ESO) enables scientists worldwide to discover the secrets of the Universe for the benefit of all. We design, build and operate world-class observatories on the ground — which astronomers use to tackle exciting questions and spread the fascination of astronomy — and promote international collaboration for astronomy. Established as an intergovernmental organisation in 1962, today ESO is supported by 16 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), along with the host state of Chile and with Australia as a Strategic Partner. ESO’s headquarters and its visitor centre and planetarium, the ESO Supernova, are located close to Munich in Germany, while the Chilean Atacama Desert, a marvellous place with unique conditions to observe the sky, hosts our telescopes. ESO operates three observing sites: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope and its Very Large Telescope Interferometer, as well as survey telescopes such as VISTA. Also at Paranal, ESO will host and operate the south array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, the world’s largest and most sensitive gamma-ray observatory. Together with international partners, ESO operates ALMA on Chajnantor, a facility that observes the skies in the millimetre and submillimetre range. At Cerro Armazones, near Paranal, we are building “the world’s biggest eye on the sky” — ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope. From our offices in Santiago, Chile we support our operations in the country and engage with Chilean partners and society.
+
+### Dr. Alba Fernández-Barral, CTAO Chief Communications** **Officer
+
+Email: [alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org](mailto:alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org)
+
+Cell: +39-051-6357-270
+
+(English, Spanish and Italian)
+
+### Bárbara Ferreira**, **ESO Media Manager
+
+Garching bei München, Germany
+
+Email: [press@eso.org](mailto:press@eso.org)
+
+Tel: +49 89 3200 6670
+
+Cell: +49 151 241 664 00
+
+### Francisco Rodríguez**, **ESO Head of Communication Chile
+
+Santiago, Chile
+
+Email: [francisco.rodriguez@eso.org](mailto:francisco.rodriguez@eso.org)
+
+Tel: +56 2 2463 3151
+
+For convenience, the links to the most up-to-date content are provided below. Unless otherwise noted, the appropriate credit for the CTAO content is “CTAO.” Please read the [media usages guidelines](https://www.ctao.org/news-resources/media-library/media-usage/) on our website.
+
+> Photos from CTAO-South Groundbreaking event – [Link to Folder](https://ctaoobservatory.sharepoint.com/sites/ctao-outreach/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2Fctao%2Doutreach%2FShared%20Documents%2FExternal%2FPress%20Release%20and%20Announcements%20Review%2FGroundbreakingEventPressRelease%5FUnderEmbargo&p=true&ct=1766055773346&or=Teams%2DHL&ga=1&LOF=1) (credit: ESO/CHEPOX)
+
+> “Exploring the Universe at the Highest Energies with the CTAO” Film – [Link to Download](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/Exploring-the-Universe-at-the-Highest-Energies-with-the-CTAO.mp4) & [Link To YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv-JyExCq7Y)
+
+> How CTAO Works Science Animation – [Link to Download](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/How_CTAO_Works.mp4) & [Link to YouTube](https://youtu.be/5gRHFQP_SjU?si=7hYdLrUJcWL4NF7A)
+
+> CTAO-South Film – [Link to Download](https://www.ctao.org/wp-content/uploads/CTAO-South-Film.mp4) & [Link to YouTube](https://youtu.be/XoVS5mBZbUc?si=I3zF9iMWboAJ5XMP)
+
+> CTAO-South rendering: [Link to Download](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctao-universe/53205280258/in/album-72157672713462861)
+
+Go to [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ctao-universe/albums) for more renderings and to the [Media Library](https://www.ctao.org/news-resources/media-library/) for more video clips.
diff --git a/src/content/news/italian-minister-of-university-and-research-visits-the-ctao-south-site-in-chile.md b/src/content/news/italian-minister-of-university-and-research-visits-the-ctao-south-site-in-chile.md
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+++ b/src/content/news/italian-minister-of-university-and-research-visits-the-ctao-south-site-in-chile.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+---
+title: "Italian Minister of University and Research Visits the CTAO-South Site in Chile"
+description: "On Thursday, 12 March, Anna Maria Bernini, the Italian Minister of University and Research, travelled to ESO’s Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Her visit included tours of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and…"
+date: 2026-03-13
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/BerniniVisit_CTAOSouth-e1773399554943-768x509.jpeg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On Thursday, 12 March, Anna Maria Bernini, the Italian Minister of University and Research, travelled to ESO’s Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Her visit included tours of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/), the CTAO’s telescope array site in the southern hemisphere. She was accompanied by a small delegation that included Valeria Biagiotti, Ambassador of Italy to Chile, and Roberto Ragazzoni, President of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).
+
+Minister Bernini, who was in Chile for the inauguration of the country’s new President, was welcomed by ESO Director General Xavier Barcons to explore the ELT facilities. The delegation then proceeded to the CTAO-South site, where they were greeted by the CTAO’s local team, who guided the visitors and detailed the rapid progress of the ongoing construction. The landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation since a [major contract was signed](https://www.ctao.org/news/telescope-construction-begins-on-ctaosouth-with-signing-of-major-contract/) in July 2025 between ESO (on behalf of the CTAO) and a consortium of Chilean companies for the construction of roads and telescope foundations. The foundation work is now well advanced, and the site is preparing to receive its first telescope structures in the coming months.
+
+Italy is a founding member of the CTAO ERIC and the hosting partner of the CTAO Headquarters in Bologna, Italy. The Italian scientific community plays a key role in the Observatory’s development, particularly by leading the development of the [Small-Sized Telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/) that will be deployed at the CTAO-South array.
diff --git a/src/content/news/italy-hosts-international-celebration-for-the-launch-of-the-ctao-eric-activities.md b/src/content/news/italy-hosts-international-celebration-for-the-launch-of-the-ctao-eric-activities.md
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+++ b/src/content/news/italy-hosts-international-celebration-for-the-launch-of-the-ctao-eric-activities.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+---
+title: "Italy Hosts International Celebration for the Launch of the CTAO ERIC Activities"
+description: "Today, in the Sala dei Giganti of the University of Padua, Italy, partners and collaborators of the CTAO gathered to celebrate the launch of activities of the CTAO ERIC. The ceremony, organised by the Italian National Institute for…"
+date: 2025-10-06
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/Stuart-McMuldroch-Direttore-Generale-CTAO-e-Anna-Maria-Bernini-Ministro-dellUniverita-e-la-Ricerca-768x512.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+Today, in the Sala dei Giganti* *of the University of Padua, Italy, partners and collaborators of the CTAO gathered to celebrate the launch of activities of the CTAO ERIC. The ceremony, organised by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) and the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), brought together representatives from the CTAO Founding Members, including the Italian Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, alongside authorities and the wider scientific community.
+
+Earlier this year, the European Commission formally [established the CTAO as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)](https://www.ctao.org/news/the-ctao-becomes-an-eric/), marking the official start of its construction phase — a key milestone that has seen remarkable progress over the past few months. The transition to this final legal form was formally completed on 30 September with the [signing of the asset transfer agreement](https://www.ctao.org/news/ctao-finalises-asset-transfer-from-ggmbh-to-eric/) from the previous entity to the CTAO ERIC. Today’s event in Padua celebrates this achievement and the beginning of a new chapter for the Observatory on its path to becoming the world’s largest and most advanced gamma-ray observatory.
+
+“The CTAO has become an ERIC, a European organisation with reach and support that extends beyond the continent. With this step, we have been able to start large-scale construction activities at our South site and increase our support for the North site activities. This has only been possible with the support of an ever-growing list of members from around the world to whom we are grateful,” explains Stuart McMuldroch, CTAO Director General. “It is a pleasure to be here today to celebrate this international progress that will lead to significant scientific discoveries.”
+
+Since the establishment of the CTAO ERIC, construction activities have advanced rapidly. At the [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) site, located at the IAC’s Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, Spain, four [Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) now stand at various stages of construction, with completion expected next year. At the [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/) site, in ESO’s Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert in Chile, a major contract was recently signed to build the telescope foundations and a 17-kilometre access road, paving the way for the installation of the first [Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/mst/) and [Small-Sized Telescopes (SSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/) as early as next year. Additionally, [computing systems](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/data-and-computing/) have been expanded and integrated to ensure the large-scale operations and data flow expected once the Observatory becomes fully operational.
+
+The establishment of the ERIC has also enabled a major recruitment and capacity-building effort, strengthening teams across the Observatory’s four facilities: the [CTAO Headquarters](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/facilities/), hosted by INAF in Bologna (Italy), the [Science Data Management Centre](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/facilities/) hosted by DESY in Zeuthen (Germany), and the two telescope sites in Spain and Chile.
+
+During the event, Anna Maria Bernini highlighted the key role that Italy, hosting country of the Observatory, has played in the project.
+
+“With the launch of activities at the CTAO, we celebrate a moment of great pride for research and for Italy,” stated Anna Maria Bernini, Italian Minister of University and Research. “The CTAO demonstrates Italy’s ability to play a central role in the construction of the most advanced research infrastructures. Our country is not only among the founding members of the CTAO ERIC, but has led the negotiations for its establishment and continues to provide decisive contributions in terms of expertise and technology.”
+
+The CTAO ERIC members include Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. Further countries — Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and the United States — are currently engaged in the process of joining the CTAO ERIC under the status of Strategic Partner or Third Party.
diff --git a/src/content/news/lst-collaboration-paper-provides-new-clues-about-gamma-ray-burst-jets.md b/src/content/news/lst-collaboration-paper-provides-new-clues-about-gamma-ray-burst-jets.md
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+++ b/src/content/news/lst-collaboration-paper-provides-new-clues-about-gamma-ray-burst-jets.md
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+---
+title: "LST Collaboration Paper Provides New Clues About Gamma-Ray Burst Jets"
+description: "La Palma, Spain — The international CTAO LST Collaboration released remarkable findings from observations of GRB 221009A—the brightest gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever recorded. The results were published on 23 July by the renowned journal The…"
+date: 2025-07-23
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/GRB_ESOimage-1600x914.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+La Palma, Spain — The international [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) released remarkable findings from observations of GRB 221009A—the brightest gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever recorded. The results were published on 23 July by the renowned journal [The Astrophysical Journal Letters (ApJ Letters)](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ade4cf). The publication presents in-depth observations conducted in 2022 with the [Large-Sized Telescope (LST](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/)) prototype, the LST-1, during its commissioning phase at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) site in La Palma, Spain. The observations revealed a hint of an excess in the gamma-ray flux, which help provide new insights into the enigmatic and complex nature of GRBs at very high energies. The results support theoretical models in which these bursts generate structured, multi-layered jets where particles are accelerated.
+
+GRBs are among the Universe’s most powerful phenomena, releasing in just seconds as much energy as the Sun emits over its entire lifetime. As their name suggests, they burst over a brief, prompt phase, lasting seconds to minutes, and then are followed by an afterglow that can fade over hours to months. GRBs are classified as short or long based on the duration of the burst: long GRBs are thought to be linked to exceptionally bright supernovae, while short GRBs likely result from neutron star collisions. Despite their intense brightness, these extragalactic sources are challenging to detect at the highest energies because the gamma rays they emit weaken over the vast distances they travel, as well as due to their transient nature.
+
+On 9 October 2022, space-based observatories, such as NASA’s *Fermi* and Swift satellites, detected an extremely bright long GRB, named GRB 221009A. Dubbed the “BOAT” (“Brightest Of All Time”), the burst was so intense that it saturated multiple instruments observing it, and triggered follow-up observations across the globe.
+
+The LST-1 telescope, located at the CTAO’s northern array site in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain), began observing the event just 1.33 days after the initial explosion. Spanning over 20 days after the GRB onset, the observations with the LST-1 enabled the LST Collaboration to identify an excess of gamma rays. While this excess did not reach the threshold required in the field to claim a formal detection, it allowed the team to establish very constrained upper limits on the very high-energy gamma-ray flux emitted by the source. Thus, these results mark an important step toward disentangling between competing theoretical models.
+
+GRBs are believed to involve ultra-fast jets of plasma ejected either from a black hole, remanent of long GRBs, or from the merging of neutron stars, in short GRBs. However, the exact process behind jet formation remains a major mystery. The LST-1 data support the theory that GRB 221009A was powered by a complex, structured jet: a narrow, ultra-fast core surrounded by a wider, slower-moving sheath of material. This challenges the simpler “top-hat” jet commonly used in earlier studies and offers new insights into jet formation mechanisms and the nature of the central engine.
+
+Notably, the recorded data include observations made under very bright moonlight conditions, which poses a significant challenge for Cherenkov telescopes due to their sensitive cameras. The full moon in the hours following the burst prevented rapid follow-up by other Cherenkov telescopes, but the technical solutions developed by the LST Collaboration made it possible for the LST-1 to be the first one to observe the source in the very high-energy gamma-ray regime. This marks the first time that the LST-1 has collected data under such challenging conditions, opening new possibilities for observing transient cosmic phenomena even during very bright moon nights.
+
+These results demonstrate the power of the CTAO’s next-generation telescopes to explore the very high-energy Universe, ushering in a new era where researchers can probe the inner workings of cosmic sources in unprecedented detail. As the CTAO continues to expand—three more LSTs are under development by the LST Collaboration on the same site and construction is beginning on the CTAO-South site in Chile—intermediate configuration arrays will soon be operational in both hemispheres. With an unprecedented sensitivity, these subsets of telescopes will already enhance our ability to study GRBs and other extreme phenomena. Complementarily, the successful deployment of alert handlers is allowing automatic responses, further reducing the follow-up reaction times for transient events.
+
+The [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) is an In-Kind Contributor (IKC) for the CTAO, in charge of building the [Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/). The collaboration is made up of more than 400 scientists and engineers from 67 different institutes across 11 countries: Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.
+
+The [Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) are one of the [three types of telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/) that the CTAO will use to cover its broad energy range, from 20 GeV to 300 TeV. When gamma rays interact with Earth’s atmosphere, they generate cascades of particles that produce [Cherenkov light](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/science/how-ctao-works/). Because lower-energy gamma rays create only small amounts of Cherenkov light, telescopes with large collection areas are needed to detect it. The LST, with its 23-meter diameter dish, will provide the CTAO’s unique sensitivity in the low-energy range between 20 and 150 GeV.
+
+Despite standing 45 meters tall and weighing 100 tonnes, each LST can reposition to any point in the sky within 20 seconds. Both this rapid repositioning and the low-energy threshold of the LSTs are critical for the CTAO’s studies of galactic transients, high-redshift active galactic nuclei, and gamma-ray bursts.
+
+The [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/), responsible for designing and building these telescopes, is making rapid progress on the [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) site in La Palma, Spain. In 2018, the LST prototype, LST-1, was inaugurated and has been under commissioning since then. Currently, three additional LSTs are under construction and are expected to be complete by spring 2026.
+
+The CTAO (Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory; [www.ctao.org](https://www.ctao.org/)) will be the world’s largest and most powerful [observatory for gamma-ray astronomy](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/science/how-ctao-works/%22%20/t%20%22_blank). The CTAO’s unparalleled accuracy and broad energy range (20 GeV- 300 TeV) will help to address some of the most perplexing questions in astrophysics, falling under [three major themes](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/science/study-themes/%22%20/t%20%22_blank): understanding the origin and role of relativistic cosmic particles; probing extreme environments, such as black holes or neutron stars; and exploring frontiers in physics, searching for dark matter or deviations from Einstein’s theory of relativity. Additionally, the CTAO will play a key role in both multi-wavelength and multi-messenger fields in the coming decades thanks to its enhanced performance, which will allow it to provide fundamental gamma-ray information in the quest to probe the most extreme scenarios.
+
+To cover its broad energy range, the CTAO will use [three types of telescopes](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/%22%20/t%20%22_blank): the [Large-Sized Telescopes (LST)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/%22%20/t%20%22_blank), the [Medium-Sized Telescopes (MST)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/mst/) and the [Small-Sized Telescopes (SST)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/). More than 60 telescopes will be distributed between two telescope array sites: [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) in the northern hemisphere at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias’ (IAC’s) Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma (Spain), and [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/) in the southern hemisphere at the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert (Chile). The [Headquarters](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/facilities/%22%20/t%20%22_blank) of the CTAO is hosted by the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) in Bologna (Italy), and the  [Data Management Centre (SDMC) Data Management Centre (SDMC)](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/facilities/%22%20/t%20%22_blank) is hosted by the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY in Zeuthen (Germany).
+
+The CTAO is a [Big Data project](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/data-and-computing/). The Observatory will generate hundreds of petabytes (PB) of data in a year (~12 PB after compression). Based on its commitment to open science, the CTAO will be the first gamma-ray observatory of its kind to operate as an open, proposal-driven observatory providing public access to its high-level science data and software products.
+
+In January 2025, the CTAO was established as a [European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/%22%20/t%20%22_blank) by the European Commission. The Founding Members of the CTAO ERIC are Austria, the Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Spain. Additionally, Japan as a Strategic Partner, and the accession of Switzerland and Croatia as Founding Members is being processed.
+
+The CTAO ERIC, commonly referred to as the CTAO Central Organisation, is in charge of the construction and operations of the Observatory. This group works in close cooperation with partners from around the world toward the development of the Observatory. Major partners include [In-Kind Contribution Collaborations](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) that are developing essential hardware and software, in addition to the  [CTAO Consortium](https://www.ctao.org/partners/ctao-consortium/), an international group of researchers who works in the scientific exploitation of the Observatory.
+
+Prof. Masahiro Teshima
+
+LST Principal Investigator (PI)
+
+[mteshima@icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp](mailto:mteshima@icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp)
+
+(English, Japanese)
+
+LST Outreach Team
+
+[lst-outreach@cta-observatory.org](mailto:lst-outreach@cta-observatory.org)
+
+(English, Italian, Spanish, and Croatian)
+
+Dr. Alba Fernández-Barral
+
+CTAO Chief Communications Officer
+
+[alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org](mailto:alba.fernandezbarral@cta-observatory.org)
+
++39-051-6357-270 (English, Spanish and Italian)
diff --git a/src/content/news/pathfinder-barcelona-raman-lidar-completes-its-performance-evaluation-phase.md b/src/content/news/pathfinder-barcelona-raman-lidar-completes-its-performance-evaluation-phase.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/pathfinder-barcelona-raman-lidar-completes-its-performance-evaluation-phase.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+---
+title: "Pathfinder Barcelona Raman LIDAR Completes its Performance Evaluation Phase"
+description: "The Pathfinder Barcelona Raman LIDAR (pBRL), developed as a prototype system for atmospheric monitoring at the CTAO, has completed its performance evaluation phase. Its design and capabilities have now been thoroughly assessed and…"
+date: 2025-08-05
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/pBRL-1600x902.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+The Pathfinder Barcelona Raman LIDAR (pBRL), developed as a prototype system for atmospheric monitoring at the CTAO, has completed its performance evaluation phase. Its design and capabilities have now been thoroughly assessed and published in two comprehensive papers in the Remote Sensing journal. The evaluation confirmed strong overall performance, with just a few aspects to be optimised in the final design.
+
+Cherenkov telescopes, like those used by the CTAO, rely on the Earth’s atmosphere as part of the detector. It is in the atmosphere, between altitudes of 5 and 18 km, where high-energy gamma rays interact and create particle showers that emit Cherenkov light. Since atmospheric conditions affect how this light reaches the telescopes, the atmosphere must be continuously monitored to meet the CTAO’s demanding accuracy requirements.
+
+As part of this monitoring strategy, researchers from In-Kind Contribution teams in Spain (IFAE and UAB/CERES-IEEC), Slovenia (University of Nova Gorica), and Italy (INFN-Padova), in collaboration with members from the CTAO Central Organisation, developed the pBRL as an atmospheric calibration pathfinder device.
+
+LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems use a laser and telescope to probe the atmosphere. The laser sends short pulses of light upward, which are scattered by aerosols and molecules. The telescope collects the returning light, and by measuring the delay, researchers can determine the amount and type of atmospheric content at different altitudes. This information is then used to correct atmospheric effects in CTAO observations.
+
+What sets the pBRL apart from other LIDAR systems is its large mirror of 1,8 metres diameter, dual-laser configuration and uniquely designed detection units. The pBRL emits two laser beams at different wavelengths simultaneously, and the returning signal is split into four distinct wavelength channels. One of these channels isolates the Raman-scattered light — light that has interacted with nitrogen molecules in the air, causing its wavelength to shift slightly. This advanced setup enables researchers to extract much more detailed information about the atmosphere, including the identification of specific gases and aerosol types.
+
+The prototype [was installed on the CTAO-North site](https://www.ctao.org/news/lidar-pathfinder-cta-north-first-light/) in La Palma, Spain, in 2021 for a one-year testing period. With the data collected, the pBRL team assessed its performance, design, data analysis and software. Their findings are detailed in two scientific papers published this year: [the first article](https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/6/1074) focuses on the system design and technical performance, while [the second](https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1815) presents a newly developed data analysis software suite and results from the measurement campaigns. The results also include an assessment of the pBRL’s performance under challenging atmospheric conditions caused by dust from the  eruption of the Tajogaite volcano in La Palma in 2021, providing valuable data that helped validate the system’s reliability.
+
+With the evaluation of the pathfinder now complete, the teams are incorporating the lessons learned into the final design of the Barcelona Raman LIDAR system. These improvements will ensure even greater robustness and accuracy for long-term operation, supporting the Observatory’s goal of delivering high-quality gamma-ray data under different atmospheric conditions.
diff --git a/src/content/news/shotaro-abe-wins-first-werner-hofmann-scientific-award.md b/src/content/news/shotaro-abe-wins-first-werner-hofmann-scientific-award.md
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/shotaro-abe-wins-first-werner-hofmann-scientific-award.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+---
+title: "Shotaro Abe Wins First Werner Hofmann Scientific Award"
+description: "On 14 October, the inaugural Werner Hofmann Scientific Award was presented at the CTAO Construction Meeting that is taking place this week at the CTAO Science Data Management Centre (SDMC) in Zeuthen, Germany. Following a rigorous…"
+date: 2025-10-14
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/ShotaroAbeAward-1-scaled-e1760444671108-1600x908.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 14 October, the inaugural [Werner Hofmann Scientific Award](https://www.ctao.org/for-scientists/werner-hofmann-scientific-award/) was presented at the CTAO Construction Meeting that is taking place this week at the CTAO [Science Data Management Centre (SDMC)](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/facilities/) in Zeuthen, Germany. Following a rigorous nomination and review process by an international panel of experts, the award was given to Shotaro Abe, a researcher at the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR) and University of Tokyo, for his groundbreaking work on dark matter and PeVatrons. Abe received the award from Prof. Werner Hofmann, which included a trophy, a monetary prize, and the opportunity to present his research to an audience of CTAO experts from around the world.
+
+Abe’s doctoral studies, completed this past March, focused on two major mysteries in astrophysics: dark matter, the invisible form of matter that makes up around 25% of the Universe but whose nature remains unknown, and PeVatrons, cosmic accelerators capable of producing particles at petaelectronvolt (PeV) energies, far beyond the reach of human-made accelerators.
+
+To tackle these challenges, Abe developed innovative large-zenith-angle observation techniques, which involve observing sources low on the horizon. These were long considered impractical because the atmosphere absorbs more gamma rays at such angles, and the telescope’s response strongly varies, creating complex uncertainties. As a member of the [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/), Abe led an international team working with the [Large-Sized Telescope (LST)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) prototype, LST-1, located on [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/), and through careful calibration and analysis, he was able to turn these challenges into an advantage, extending LST-1’s sensitivity above 20 TeV with just 40 hours of observation.
+
+Alongside these technical achievements, Abe published influential scientific studies. For dark matter, he investigated the Galactic Centre to search for gamma rays from the annihilation of Higgsino, a dark matter candidate. Using telescope simulations, he showed that CTAO-North could detect this elusive particle by 2030, demonstrating that such searches are feasible from the northern hemisphere and not only from the south, as previously thought. In his PeVatron studies, Abe applied wide-field analyses methods, which examine a large region of the sky simultaneously, revealing subtle variations in the gamma-ray spectrum across the Galactic Centre and providing new insights into the origin and structure of extreme cosmic accelerators.
+
+Launched in early 2025 by the [CTAO Central Organisation](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/), the Werner Hofmann Scientific Award recognises early-career researchers who make significant contributions to gamma-ray astronomy and the CTAO through innovative research, technical advances, or emerging scientific leadership. Named after Prof. Hofmann, a pioneering figure in the field, the award honours his lasting impact on the vision and design of the CTAO. The evaluation committee for the 2025 edition brought together experts from different countries and fields, including Hofmann, to select the winner: Catherine Boisson (Observatoire de Paris, France), Rubén López-Coto (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, IAA-CSIC, Spain), Alison Mitchell (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany), Masahiro Teshima (Max Planck Institut für Physik, MPI, and ICRR, Japan), and Roberta Zanin (CTAO Project Scientist).
+
+Congratulations to Shotaro Abe on this well-deserved recognition!
diff --git a/src/content/news/small-sized-telescopes-pass-readiness-review-to-proceed-to-factory-testing.md b/src/content/news/small-sized-telescopes-pass-readiness-review-to-proceed-to-factory-testing.md
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/small-sized-telescopes-pass-readiness-review-to-proceed-to-factory-testing.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+---
+title: "Small-Sized Telescopes Pass Readiness Review to Proceed to Factory Testing"
+description: "On 2–3 December, the CTAO Central Organisation’s Telescope team visited the facilities of the Italian company Dal Ben, located in the Veneto region, to conduct the Test Readiness Review (TRR) for the electromechanical structure of the…"
+date: 2025-12-17
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/SST_TRR_1125-1600x1133.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 2–3 December, the [CTAO Central Organisation’s](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/) Telescope team visited the facilities of the Italian company Dal Ben, located in the Veneto region, to conduct the Test Readiness Review (TRR) for the electromechanical structure of the [Small-Sized Telescope](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/) (SST). After the CTAO [SST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) completed the integration of the first SST telescope at the facility, which includes a mechanical and electrical model of the camera, this review represents a key milestone, determining the telescope’s readiness for the start of factory testing.
+
+With the positive TRR outcome, the SST Collaboration team immediately proceeded to factory testing, which will run until the end of January 2026. At the end of the testing program a Pre-Shipment Review (PSR) will be held to clear the shipment of the first telescope to the [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/) site in Chile, which is expected between February and March 2026. If all goes as planned, the telescope will be integrated on site between late May and early June.
+
+This accomplishment is the culmination of the SST Collaboration’s steady progress over the past year. After completing the [telescope’s Critical Design Review](https://www.ctao.org/news/sst-structure-advances-to-serial-production/https:/www.ctao.org/news/sst-structure-advances-to-serial-production/) in February 2025, which confirmed that the structure meets the technical and scientific requirements set by the Observatory, the serial production of 14 SST structures was initiated. This is the first part of a contract awarded by [INAF (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica)](http://www.inaf.it/en) to the Dal Ben company for the construction of a total of 25 units. The approved Alpha Configuration foresees a total of 37 SSTs.
+
+The [CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)](https://www.cnrs.fr/en) has assigned a contract for the construction of the remaining 12 SST structures to an industry group led by Dal Ben SpA, including its French subsidiary Dal Ben SAS. Activities started in September 2025, and telescope production will occur in two phases through early 2027: the first telescope structure, as a qualification model for the tender, then the additional eleven structures. Preparations for procurement and the manufacturing is under way, which will start after the current factory testing of the first SST.
+
+The SSTs represent the smallest class of telescopes for the CTAO, optimised to detect the most energetic gamma rays in the Observatory’s energy range, from 5 to 300 TeV. Standing nine metres tall and weighing 17.5 tonnes, each SST employs a compact, dual-mirror Schwarzschild–Couder optical system. This design enables excellent spatial resolution across a wide field of view while maintaining a small focal ratio suitable for compact cameras.
+
+Each telescope includes a segmented 4.3-metre primary mirror, made up of 18 hexagonal elements, which reflects light onto a monolithic 1.8-metre secondary mirror. The Cherenkov light is then focused into the camera, which is being developed by an international team led by the [MPIK (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)](https://www.mpi-hd.mpg.de/mpi/en/), where it is digitised and processed. This dual-reflector system differentiates the SSTs from the Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) and Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs), which use single-mirror designs.
+
+The SST Collaboration is an In-Kind Contribution team for the CTAO, responsible for developing the SSTs. It comprises research institutions and universities from Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA.
+
+The production of the aforementioned first 14 telescopes are carried out with contribution of the Next Generation EU funds within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 – Education and Research, Component 2 – From Research to Business (M4C2), Investment Line 3.1 – Strengthening and creation of Research Infrastructures, Project IR0000012 – “CTA+ – Cherenkov Telescope Array Plus;” Cup: C53C22000430006.
diff --git a/src/content/news/sst-structure-advances-to-serial-production.md b/src/content/news/sst-structure-advances-to-serial-production.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8757949
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/sst-structure-advances-to-serial-production.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+---
+title: "Small-Sized Telescope Structure Advances to Serial Production"
+description: "On 5 June, a delegation from the CTAO SST Collaboration and the CTAO Central Organisation’s Telescope team visited the facilities of the Italian company Dal Ben, located in the Veneto region, to inspect the progress of the Small-Sized…"
+date: 2025-06-17
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/SST_Base_Jun2025-1600x1200.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 5 June, a delegation from the [CTAO SST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) and the [CTAO Central Organisation](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/)’s Telescope team visited the facilities of the Italian company Dal Ben, located in the Veneto region, to inspect the progress of the [Small-Sized Telescope (SST)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/) electromechanical structures’ production. In a significant step forward, the SST structures have now officially entered serial production following the approval of their final design.
+
+The approval to enter the new phase came two months ago with the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR), a rigorous evaluation confirming that the structure meets all technical and scientific requirements set by the Observatory. The review, carried out by a panel of CTAO experts and external professionals, took place in February 2025 and resulted in a broadly positive outcome, with only minor adjustments required. These have since been resolved through close cooperation between the SST Collaboration and the CTAO Central Organisation’s Telescope team, allowing the serial production phase to start.
+
+Now, production is underway for the first batch of 10 SST structures, as part of a contract awarded by [INAF (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica)](http://www.inaf.it/en) to the Dal Ben company for the construction of a total of 25 units. At least one is expected to be fully assembled later this year for testing at Dal Ben’s facilities. Meanwhile, the [CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique](https://www.cnrs.fr/en)) has issued a call for bids to assign a second contract for the construction of an additional 12 SST structures, with the contract award expected in the coming months. According to the current schedule, the first SSTs are expected to be ready at the CTAO’s southern hemisphere array site, [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/), in Chile by the middle of next year, where the approved Alpha Configuration foresees a total of 37 SSTs.
+
+The SSTs represent the smallest class of telescopes for the CTAO, optimised to detect the most energetic gamma rays in the Observatory’s energy range, from 5 to 300 TeV. Standing nine metres tall and weighing 17.5 tonnes, each SST employs a compact, dual-mirror Schwarzschild–Couder optical system. This design enables excellent spatial resolution across a wide field of view while maintaining a small focal ratio suitable for compact cameras.
+
+Each telescope includes a segmented 4.3-metre primary mirror, made up of 18 hexagonal elements, which reflects light onto a monolithic 1.8-metre secondary mirror. The Cherenkov light is then focused into a camera where it is digitised and processed. This dual-reflector system differentiates the SSTs from the Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) and Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs), which use single-mirror designs.
+
+The SST Collaboration is an In-Kind Contribution team for the CTAO, responsible for developing the SSTs. It comprises research institutions and universities from Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
+
+The production of the aforementioned first 10 telescopes are carried out with contribution of the Next Generation EU funds within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Mission 4 – Education and Research, Component 2 – From Research to Business (M4C2), Investment Line 3.1 – Strengthening and creation of Research Infrastructures, Project IR0000012 – “CTA+ – Cherenkov Telescope Array Plus”.
diff --git a/src/content/news/successful-first-test-of-the-small-sized-telescopes-with-the-array-control-and-data-acquisition-software.md b/src/content/news/successful-first-test-of-the-small-sized-telescopes-with-the-array-control-and-data-acquisition-software.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c9c01ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/successful-first-test-of-the-small-sized-telescopes-with-the-array-control-and-data-acquisition-software.md
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+---
+title: "Successful First Test of the Small-Sized Telescopes with the Array Control and Data Acquisition Software"
+description: "On 21–22 April, experts from the CTAO Central Organisation and the Small-Sized Telescope (SST) Collaboration successfully established the first direct communication between the telescope structure and the Array Control and Data Acquisition…"
+date: 2026-05-04
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/SSTACADA-1600x900.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 21–22 April, experts from the [CTAO Central Organisation](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/) and the [Small-Sized Telescope (SST) Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) successfully established the first direct communication between the telescope structure and the [Array Control and Data Acquisition (ACADA)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/data-and-computing/) software. As the central system that will eventually send commands to operate both CTAO telescope arrays, conducting integration tests between ACADA and the telescope is a critical pre-shipment milestone to minimise potential compatibility risks before the [SSTs](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/) are delivered to the remote [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/) site in Chile.
+
+The rapid success of these integration tests was the direct result of exceptional synergy between the two groups. In the weeks leading up to the campaign, the SST Collaboration and the Central Organisation’s ACADA, Telescope, and System Integration teams worked together closely to lay the groundwork for the software deployment. This joint preparation paid off during the on-site work at the facilities of Dal Ben S.p.A., the company in charge of the mass production of the SST structures, in San Stino di Livenza, Italy. It took barely two days of joint, hands-on work at the factory for these two highly complex systems to successfully communicate with one another.
+
+“Integrating the array control software with the instrument control software is a challenging transition for any observatory,” says Dominik Neise, ACADA Lead Developer. “The fact that the system responded accurately to our commands almost immediately significantly de-risks our schedule. We resolved a few minor issues on the spot, proving that our teams are fully aligned and capable of troubleshooting together under real-world conditions.”
+
+During the tests, ACADA successfully executed commands instructing the telescope to perform repositioning and source tracking, whilst also retrieving monitoring data, such as temperature, from the sensors. Moreover, because only the mechanical structure is currently available at the Dal Ben S.p.A. factory, the SST camera team developed a simulation of the camera instrument. This allowed the teams to run the camera’s integration tests with ACADA, as well, ensuring a highly realistic, end-to-end testing environment.
+
+“What is particularly encouraging is how smoothly the system behaved once connected to the real telescope structure,” says Vito Conforti, SST Telescope Control Software Lead and ACADA Release Manager. “This achievement reflects the extensive development and validation activities carried out across all Telescope Control Software subsystems, and the strong collaboration within the SST teams, from structure to camera, as well as with ACADA. It provides clear evidence that the adopted approach is robust and that the system is well prepared for the next phases of integration.”
+
+The CTAO SST Collaboration is an In-Kind Contribution team tasked with developing and building the SSTs. Ultimately, 37 of these telescopes will be integrated into the CTAO-South array in Chile to study the highest-energy Universe. Following their installation and commissioning, they will be formally accepted by the Central Organisation for operation as an integral part of the Observatory.
+
+With this first round of command execution and data exchange completed successfully, the teams will return to the Dal Ben S.p.A. factory in early May for the final phase of the testing campaign. Confidence remains exceptionally high as the project moves steadily towards shipment and installation of the first SSTs at the CTAO-South array this year.
diff --git a/src/content/news/switzerland-and-croatia-officially-become-members-of-the-ctao-eric.md b/src/content/news/switzerland-and-croatia-officially-become-members-of-the-ctao-eric.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..027c14b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/switzerland-and-croatia-officially-become-members-of-the-ctao-eric.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+---
+title: "Switzerland and Croatia Officially Become Members of the CTAO ERIC"
+description: "From 19 to 21 November 2025, the CTAO ERIC Council convened at the CTAO Science Data Management Centre (SDMC) in Zeuthen, Berlin, for its fifth meeting. During the session, the Council unanimously approved a revision of the CTAO ERIC…"
+date: 2025-11-24
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/SwissCroatianFlags-1600x901.png
+draft: false
+---
+
+From 19 to 21 November 2025, the [CTAO ERIC Council](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/) convened at the CTAO [Science Data Management Centre (SDMC)](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/facilities/) in Zeuthen, Berlin, for its fifth meeting. During the session, the Council unanimously approved a revision of the CTAO ERIC Statutes to formally include Switzerland and Croatia as full members, granting them corresponding voting rights.
+
+Switzerland and Croatia were initially endorsed as members by the CTAO ERIC Council in June 2025. Following internal approval, the European Commission was formally notified, allowing the Statutes to be updated to reflect their membership. The modification approved at November’s meeting not only confirms their status as Founding Members—joining within 18 months of the ERIC’s establishment—but also grants both countries full membership rights.
+
+“The addition of Switzerland and Croatia to our growing membership strengthens the CTAO community and underscores our shared commitment to advancing gamma-ray astronomy and astroparticle physics across and beyond Europe,” says Francisco Colomer, Chair of the CTAO ERIC Council.
+
+Both countries have long supported the CTAO, particularly through their contributions to [in-kind collaborations](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/), which have advanced the development of telescope hardware and the Observatory’s computing infrastructure. As official Council members, Switzerland and Croatia will continue to contribute to the development of the Observatory, enabling their respective scientists and institutions to actively participate in the CTAO’s scientific programme. This will reinforce their participation in gamma-ray, astroparticle, and multi-messenger astronomy, while fostering national expertise in data science and enabling broader participation of their scientific communities.
+
+The [CTAO ERIC members](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/) now include Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. Further countries — Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and the United States — are engaged in the process of joining the CTAO ERIC as Strategic Partners or Third Parties.
+
+*From Left: Francisco Colomer, Chair of the CTAO ERIC Council; Patrice Soom, Head of the Switzerland Delegation; Stuart McMuldroch, CTAO Director General; and Domenico della Volpe, Delegate for Switzerland, during the CTAO ERIC Council meeting. Not Pictured: Jelena Ilić Dreven, Delegate for Croatia, joined the meeting remotely.*
diff --git a/src/content/news/telescope-construction-begins-on-ctaosouth-with-signing-of-major-contract.md b/src/content/news/telescope-construction-begins-on-ctaosouth-with-signing-of-major-contract.md
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@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+---
+title: "Telescope Construction Begins on CTAO-South with Signing of Major Contract"
+description: "On 2 July, a major contract, worth several million Euros, was signed between the CTAO’s hosting partner, ESO (European Southern Observatory), and a consortium of Chilean companies for the construction of roads and telescope foundations for…"
+date: 2025-07-03
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/CTAOSouthFoundationsSigning1-768x512.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 2 July, a major contract, worth several million Euros, was signed between the [CTAO’s](https://www.ctao.org/) hosting partner, [ESO (European Southern Observatory)](https://www.eso.org/public/), and a consortium of Chilean companies for the construction of roads and telescope foundations for the [CTAO’s southern hemisphere array (CTAO-South)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/), which is located near ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. The contract, signed on behalf of the CTAO, includes more than 50 foundations for the CTAO’s Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs) and Small-Sized Telescopes (SSTs), as well as approximately 17 km of roads, connecting these foundations to the support facilities. The construction of this important infrastructure, which is expected to take one year, marks the beginning of telescope construction on the CTAO-South site.
+
+“We’re excited to see telescope construction begin on site after years of planning and preparation,” says Volker Heinz, CTAO Construction Programme Manager. “We’re grateful for ESO’s support in securing this fundamental step. Soon, we’ll be ready to receive the telescopes on site, with the first expected to be built as early as the middle of next year.”
+
+The CTAO will be the world’s largest and most powerful observatory for gamma-ray astronomy. It is composed of two arrays of telescopes: CTAO-South, and [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) in La Palma, Spain. With locations in both hemispheres, the Observatory will cover the full gamma-ray sky, capturing the ever-elusive [Cherenkov light](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/science/how-ctao-works/). When cosmic gamma rays reach the atmosphere and interact with it, they generate a cascade of ultra-energetic particles; as they move through the air, these particles create a faint blue flash of “Cherenkov light.” By analysing this faint light, scientists can infer much about the cosmic sources, like supermassive black holes and supernova remnants, that emitted the original gamma rays.
+
+To capture Cherenkov light, the CTAO-South site will cover an area of about three-square kilometres and consist of 51 individual telescopes of different sizes to detect both bright and faint events. The awarded contract includes the construction of foundations for the [Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/mst/) and [Small-Sized Telescopes (SSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/). The MST and SST are two of the three telescope types that the CTAO will deploy to span its broad energy range from 20 GeV to 300 TeV. The MST, weighing approximately 89 tonnes and featuring a 12-meter mirror reflector, is designed to cover the core energy range between 150 GeV and 5 TeV. The SST, which has a dual-mirror configuration and weighs about 17.5 tonnes, will focus on detecting the most energetic cosmic sources, which emit gamma rays at the high end of the CTAO’s energy range, from 5 to 300 TeV.
+
+As the first open ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy, the CTAO will make its data and analysis software publicly available for the entire global scientific community to share, strengthening worldwide collaboration and helping to answer questions across both astronomy and particle physics, including decades-long mysteries, such as the origin and role in the galaxies of relativistic cosmic particles or the nature of dark matter.
+
+The CTAO will be the first observatory of its kind built in Chile, able to observe the high-energy Universe with unparalleled sensitivity. Its location near Cerro Paranal, far from light pollution sources and under one of the world’s darkest and most pristine night skies, is key to detecting the extremely faint Cherenkov blue light.
+
+In January 2025, the CTAO was established as a [European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/) by the European Commission. The Founding Members of the CTAO ERIC are Austria, the Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Spain. Additionally, Japan is a Strategic Partner, and the accession of Switzerland and Croatia as Founding Members is being processed.
+
+*Representatives from ESO and Chile companies sign CTAO-South contract. Credit: ESO*
+
+*CTAO and ESO representatives at a contract-signing ceremony. Credit: ESO*
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-ctao-cohosts-95th-cci-meeting.md b/src/content/news/the-ctao-cohosts-95th-cci-meeting.md
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+++ b/src/content/news/the-ctao-cohosts-95th-cci-meeting.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+---
+title: "The CTAO Co-Hosts the 95th Meeting of the International Scientific Committee of the Canary Islands Observatories"
+description: "During the week of 4 May, the CTAO Central Organisation co-hosted, along with the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), the University of Bologna, and the Galileo National Telescope, the International Scientific Committee of…"
+date: 2026-05-12
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/WhatsApp-Image-2026-05-08-at-11.38.53-768x512.jpeg
+draft: false
+---
+
+During the week of 4 May, the CTAO Central Organisation co-hosted, along with the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), the University of Bologna, and the Galileo National Telescope, the [International Scientific Committee of the Canary Islands Observatories](https://www.iac.es/es/observatorios-de-canarias/comite-cientifico-internacional) (CCI, in Spanish) at the home of the CTAO Headquarters in Bologna, Italy. With its northern hemisphere array, CTAO-North, located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM) on the island of La Palma, the CTAO is an active member of the committee.
+
+The CCI is the body established under the International Agreements that created the Canary Islands Observatories, the ORM (La Palma) and Teide Observatory (Tenerife), which are managed by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. It holds biannual meetings to ensure the management of the various instruments located at the observatories can effectively participate in the decisions concerning the use, maintenance, and enhancement of these scientific facilities.
+
+This is the CTAO’s and INAF’s first time hosting the meeting. Isabella Pagano, INAF Science Director, welcomed attendees, and Stuart McMuldroch, Director General of the CTAO, presented a report on the project’s status. The CTAO-North site is already the home of four Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) that are under various stages of development by the CTAO LST Collaboration. The first telescope, the LST-1, is wrapping up its commissioning and is expected to be accepted by the Central Organisation in 2027. In preparation for the operation of this “sub-array” of telescopes, the Central Organisation has been rapidly growing its team on site to ease the transition and ensure early science can begin, even as the rest of the array is under construction.
+
+“With the start of the construction phase, the CTAO has become an active research infrastructure within the CCI community,” says Roberta Zanin, CTAO Project Scientist. “The CTAO is strengthening its engagement with the other facilities at the ORM, fostering synergies that will enhance scientific exploitation and maximise the observatory’s scientific impact.”
+
+The CTAO Central Organisation was delighted to co-host the event alongside INAF, the University of Bologna, and the Galileo National Telescope. Each host gave participants the opportunity to visit a special astronomical site in and around Bologna. The CTAO provided access to its offices at its headquarters, while INAF organized a guided tour of the Medicina Radio Observatory, home to the historic Northern Cross Radio Telescope. The University of Bologna hosted participants at the Accademia delle Scienze, located within the university museum complex, which also includes La Specola Museum, the city’s astronomical museum. At La Specola, participants also learned about the pioneering work of Guido Horn d’Arturo, whose innovative segmented mirror designs anticipated technologies now used in modern observatories such as the CTAO.
+
+“There is tremendous excitement surrounding the upcoming operations of the CTAO-North array and the groundbreaking science it will deliver,” said McMuldroch. “We are grateful to contribute to this committee and to strengthen collaboration with neighbouring observatories as we prepare for what lies ahead.”
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-ctao-engages-with-slovenian-industry-at-big-science-business-meeting.md b/src/content/news/the-ctao-engages-with-slovenian-industry-at-big-science-business-meeting.md
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+++ b/src/content/news/the-ctao-engages-with-slovenian-industry-at-big-science-business-meeting.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+title: "The CTAO Engages with Slovenian Industry at Big Science Business Meeting"
+description: "On 3 February, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) hosted the annual Big Science business meeting, an event designed to connect national companies and institutions with leading research organisations worldwide. This…"
+date: 2026-02-13
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/Skupna-na-GZS-1600x1067.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 3 February, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) hosted the annual [Big Science business meeting](https://www.gzs.si/Dogodki/3-02-2026/srecanje-podjetij-v-bigscience-podpiramo-cern-odstiramo-ctao#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=93b17c32-d9be-4515-aea9-3a8caa990000), an event designed to connect national companies and institutions with leading research organisations worldwide. This year, the CTAO was invited to play a central role in the event, giving the CTAO Director General, Stuart McMuldroch, a platform to present the opportunities for synergy between the Observatory and the Slovenian industrial community.
+
+The event, focused on exploring cooperation with CERN and the CTAO, brought together representatives from high-tech companies, research infrastructures, and leading Slovenian scientists. It was also attended by high-level government authorities, including state secretaries from the Ministry of Economy, Tourism and Sport, Matjaž Frangež, and from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Jure Gašparič.
+
+The programme featured presentations by Peter Volasko (Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation) on Slovenia’s membership in CERN; by Samo Stanič (University of Nova Gorica and Slovenia’s delegate on the CTAO Council) on synergies between academia and industry; and by Stuart McMuldroch, who detailed the CTAO’s status. A roundtable discussion followed, focusing on knowledge transfer and how local industry can capitalise on the economic potential of “Big Science.”
+
+The event was also attended by Stefan Schlenstedt and Igor Oya, the CTAO Computing Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator, respectively. Their presence enabled targeted networking discussions focused on opportunities related to the critical [software systems, data handling, and high-tech requirements](http://ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/data-and-computing/) for the Observatory’s operation.
+
+As a [founding member of the CTAO ERIC](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/), Slovenia plays a crucial role in the Observatory’s development. Consequently, this meeting served as a timely opportunity to explore potential stronger participation of Slovenian companies, particularly during the current construction phase of the Observatory.
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-ctao-eric-council-visits-ctao-north-in-la-palma.md b/src/content/news/the-ctao-eric-council-visits-ctao-north-in-la-palma.md
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+++ b/src/content/news/the-ctao-eric-council-visits-ctao-north-in-la-palma.md
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+---
+title: "The CTAO ERIC Council Visits CTAO-North in La Palma"
+description: "Between 27 and 29 May, the CTAO ERIC Council held its first in-person meeting of the year on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain), home to the CTAO northern hemisphere array, or CTAO-North. The Council is the governing body of…"
+date: 2026-06-09
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/CouncilatCTAONorth-1600x1069.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+Between 27 and 29 May, the [CTAO ERIC Council](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/) held its first in-person meeting of the year on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain), home to the CTAO northern hemisphere array, or CTAO-North. The Council is the governing body of the CTAO ERIC and includes delegates from Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland. Further countries—Australia, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and the United States—are currently engaged in the process of joining as Strategic Partners or Third Parties.
+
+Delegates representing these nations, alongside members of the [CTAO Central Organisation (legally, CTAO ERIC)](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/), travelled to the island or connected remotely to discuss the Observatory’s progress and strategic direction. Prior to the formal meeting sessions, the Council undertook its first official tour of the [CTAO-North site](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/), which currently hosts four Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) at various stages of development by the [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/).
+
+### Arrival and Institutional Welcome
+
+Ascending to 2,200 metres above sea level to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM), home of CTAO-North, visitors are greeted by the impressive LSTs standing tall against the landscape.
+
+The delegates were officially welcomed to the ORM by Valentín Martínez, Director of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), CTAO hosting partner. He provided an overview of the ORM’s evolution and the CTAO’s neighbouring instruments, including the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), which some delegates also had the opportunity to tour.
+
+Standing before the towering telescopes, the group was greeted by Patricia Márquez, CTAO-North Station Manager. She detailed the project’s progress on the island, highlighting the expansion of the sea-level office, staff growth, and the future on-site operations building. Further enriching the welcome, Ramón García, Principal Investigator of the IAC’s gamma-ray group, shared insights into the [groundbreaking science](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/science/study-themes/) the Cherenkov telescopes can deliver.
+
+### Up Close with the Telescopes
+
+While observing the telescopes from a distance offers a magnificent overview of the array, the delegates were invited to step inside and explore two of them up close. Divided into groups, they visited LST-1, the prototype undergoing commissioning since 2018, and LST-4, which recently completed its construction phase with the installation of its camera.
+
+At LST-1, delegates climbed the tower that supports the camera whilst in its resting position. From this vantage point, the true scale of the camera became apparent; together with its exterior framework, it measures a massive 3×3 metres.
+
+Guided by Oscar Blanch, Technical Coordinator of the LST Collaboration, the group opened the rear of the camera to reveal the back-end systems responsible for the evaluation and recording of gamma-ray events. From this elevated platform, they also had a direct view of the mirrors and the central calibration system located in the heart of the reflector.
+
+Additionally, Alice Donini, Technical On-Site Coordinator of the LST Collaboration, showcased the control monitors currently used for the telescope’s commissioning. By keeping a close eye on individual subsystems and meteorological conditions, operators manage the observations that test the telescopes. Ultimately, all Observatory operations will be managed from the future on-site operations building.
+
+The visit to LST-4 provided a deeper dive into the telescopes’ structural engineering. Walking through the framework, guided by Daniel Mazin, LST Project Manager, delegates closely examined the tubular carbon fibre structure. This design not only supports the 100-tonne telescope but also keeps it remarkably lightweight, enabling it to reposition to any point in the sky in under 20 seconds. This structure represents a true engineering milestone: the segments are joined by over 600 unique nodes, perfectly shaping the reflector.
+
+Back on the ground, Juan Cortina, Chair of the LST Collaboration Steering Committee, showed the delegates spare mirrors stored in the LST-4 work area, allowing them to appreciate their impressive size of around two square metres. During the day, the mirrors installed on the telescopes are intentionally misaligned for safety reasons. However, before observations begin, the telescope is calibrated, and the mirrors are adjusted with micron-level precision to ensure the reflector perfectly focuses Cherenkov light into the camera, which is suspended 28 metres away by an arch and carbon-fibre tension rods.
+
+The continuous progress of these four telescopes is a testament to the hard work of the LST Collaboration. Capitalising on this momentum, a press conference held prior to the visit—featuring the LST Collaboration alongside the CTAO Central Organisation, the Cabildo de La Palma, and the IAC—[announced that the official inauguration of the LST sub-array](https://www.ctao.org/news/ctao-advances-towards-early-science-in-la-palma-as-lst-collaboration-announces-lst-subarray-inauguration/) will take place on 15 October, with special guests like Prof. Takaaki Kajita, Nobel Laureate in Physics.
+
+### Looking Ahead
+
+This visit marked not only the CTAO ERIC Council’s first official tour of the CTAO-North site but also an invaluable opportunity to witness firsthand the development of what will become the world’s most powerful gamma-ray observatory—a growing international effort made possible by the unwavering support of the CTAO ERIC Council member countries and organisations.
+
+An exciting path lies ahead. Following the inauguration, the LST Collaboration will continue the commissioning required before the telescopes can be officially accepted and operated by the CTAO Central Organisation, and the site will soon welcome the first Medium-Sized Telescope (MST).
+
+As the Central Organisation’s dedicated team and daily operations continue to expand on La Palma, we are getting ready for the initial operations, thus beginning to unlock the high-energy Universe.
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-ctao-joins-the-iac-in-celebrating-its-40th-anniversary.md b/src/content/news/the-ctao-joins-the-iac-in-celebrating-its-40th-anniversary.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/the-ctao-joins-the-iac-in-celebrating-its-40th-anniversary.md
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+---
+title: "The CTAO Joins the IAC in Celebrating Its 40th Anniversary"
+description: "The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), hosting partner of the CTAO, celebrated its 40th anniversary on 24 July 2025. The occasion marks four decades since the official inauguration of its headquarters and its two observatories:…"
+date: 2025-07-28
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/IACAnniversary-1600x1068.png
+draft: false
+---
+
+The [Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC),](https://www.iac.es/en) hosting partner of the CTAO, celebrated its 40th anniversary on 24 July 2025. The occasion marks four decades since the official inauguration of its headquarters and its two observatories: the Teide Observatory in Tenerife and the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, Canary Islands— the latter being the site of the [CTAO-North array.](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/)
+
+This milestone is commemorated under the theme ‘Soñando Estrellas’ (‘Dreaming of Stars’), the title of a book in which Francisco Sánchez, the IAC’s founding director, recounts the history of the institute.
+
+The celebration took place at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory and included speeches by IAC Director and delegate for Spain in the CTAO ERIC Council, Valentín Martínez Pillet; Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres; Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant; and President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo. Among other distinguished attendees were the President of the Cabildo of La Palma, Sergio Rodríguez; the President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila; the Rector of the University of La Laguna (ULL), Francisco García; and the President of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Eloísa del Pino Matute, along with various international, national, regional, and local authorities.
+
+The CTAO had a strong presence at the anniversary, underlining its close partnership with the IAC and its role in the site’s continued scientific growth and excellence. The IAC’s Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is home to CTAO-North, one of the CTAO’s two telescope arrays — the other, [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/), is located near ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. CTAO-North will host two of the [three types of telescope](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/) that the CTAO will deploy: the [Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) and the [Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/mst/)). At present, the site includes the LST prototype, LST-1, which is undergoing commissioning, along with three additional LSTs under construction by the [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/). It will also include an operations building and calibration and atmospheric characterisation devices.
+
+Representing the [CTAO ERIC](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/) at the anniversary were Francisco Colomer, Chair of the [CTAO ERIC Council](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/governance/) and Programme Director at the Spanish Deputy Directorate General for International Consortia, Organisations and Research Infrastructures; Volker Heinz, Construction Programme Manager; and Patricia Márquez, Construction Lead Engineer.
+
+“Being present at the IAC’s Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM) to celebrate these first 40 years of great success in science, while the site is currently attracting new unique infrastructures such as the CTAO, demonstrates the great vision of the founders, the dedicated work of the scientists, and the constant support of many administrations. I personally feel pride and honour that this is happening in Spain,” said Francisco Colomer.
+
+Also present were representatives of different CTAO teams, including Ramón García, Principal Investigator of the CTAO group at the IAC; Masahiro Teshima, Principal Investigator of the LST Collaboration; Daniel Mazin, LST Project Manager; and Alice Donini, LST Deputy Project Manager.
+
+The CTAO delegation guided attendees on a detailed tour of the CTAO-North site, showcasing the LST-1 prototype and giving authorities and guests firsthand insight into the array’s significant progress.
+
+In his speech, Valentín Martínez spoke of the evolution of Cherenkov telescopes. “These telescopes were unimaginable 40 years ago. Today they are a reality in La Palma. They are also being built in Chile, but — for now — we have the world’s largest concentration of this type of telescope,” he emphasised.
+
+La Palma holds a unique place in the history of ground-based gamma-ray astronomy, having hosted three generations of Cherenkov telescopes. These include decommissioned HEGRA array and the still-operational MAGIC Telescopes, both predecessors of the CTAO, which will be the first to operate as an open, proposal-driven observatory.
+
+Congratulations to everyone at the IAC on four decades of pioneering work and excellence—we look forward to many more years of collaboration and discovery!
+
+*President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant during the visit to CTAO-North. Credit: IAC*
+
+*From left to right: PI of the CTAO group at IAC, Ramón García; Chair of the CTAO ERIC Council, Francisco Colomer; Construction Lead Engineer, Patricia Márquez; and Construction Programme Manager, Volker Heinz. Credit: Francisco Colomer*
+
+*CTAO delegation participating in the IAC anniversary. From left to right: Masahiro Teshima, Volker Heinz, Patricia Márquez, Daniel Mazin, Francisco Colomer, Alice Donini, Ramón García and Javier Herrera, Department Head at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory. Credit: IAC*
+
+*Status of CTAO-North as of July 2025, with one LST under commissioning and three others in different phases of construction. Credit: José Fernández Arozena*
+
+*In the photo: Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García; President of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila; President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo and Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant. The LST-1 is visible behind. Credit: IAC*
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-ctao-launches-the-werner-hofmann-scientific-award.md b/src/content/news/the-ctao-launches-the-werner-hofmann-scientific-award.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/content/news/the-ctao-launches-the-werner-hofmann-scientific-award.md
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+---
+title: "The CTAO Launches the Werner Hofmann Scientific Award"
+description: "On May 12, the CTAO Central Organisation announced the launch of the Werner Hofmann Scientific Award during the CTAO Consortium Meeting. The award aims to recognise outstanding PhD research in very high-energy gamma-ray astrophysics. “The…"
+date: 2025-05-14
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/WernerHofmann_Ceremony_Cover-768x576.png
+draft: false
+---
+
+On May 12, the [CTAO Central Organisation](https://www.ctao.org/organisation/team/) announced the launch of the [Werner Hofmann Scientific Award](https://www.ctao.org/for-scientists/werner-hofmann-scientific-award/) during the CTAO Consortium Meeting. The award aims to recognise outstanding PhD research in very high-energy gamma-ray astrophysics.
+
+“The award is for PhD students who are currently enrolled or have completed their thesis within 12 months of the call opening, and whose contributions have been significant in either science or instrumentation development within the field,” says Roberta Zanin, CTAO Project Scientist and award coordinator.
+
+Nominees’ research must focus on very high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray astronomy, with contributions in theoretical, observational, or instrumental areas. While the research does not need to be exclusively about the CTAO, it should have a clear and relevant connection to the project, either scientifically or technologically. The winner will receive a certificate, a commemorative medal, a monetary prize, and an invitation to present their work at the next CTAO Symposium, providing exposure to the broader multi-wavelength and multi-messenger astronomical community.
+
+The award is named in honour of Werner Hofmann, a pioneer in high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, who played a key role in establishing Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) as essential tools for exploring the extreme Universe. He was a founding figure behind the CTAO concept and served as Spokesperson of the [CTAO Consortium](https://www.ctao.org/partners/ctao-consortium/) for over 15 years until last summer, making the Consortium Meeting the ideal occasion for the Central Organisation to announce the award.
+
+“The award was discussed among members of various CTAO teams, and we hoped the announcement would come as a pleasant surprise to him—which, I believe, it did,” says Zanin. “It not only honours his outstanding contributions to CTAO’s scientific and technical progress, as well as his support for the next generation of researchers, but also stands as a lasting testament to his legacy for future generations.”
+
+The call for the first Werner Hofmann Scientific Award, to be presented in autumn 2025, will open soon. Further information and guidelines are available [on the dedicated webpage](https://www.ctao.org/for-scientists/werner-hofmann-scientific-award/).
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-ctao-says-thank-you-and-farewell-to-federico-ferrini.md b/src/content/news/the-ctao-says-thank-you-and-farewell-to-federico-ferrini.md
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+---
+title: "The CTAO Says Thank You and Farewell to Federico Ferrini"
+description: "Credit: Massimiliano Donati"
+date: 2026-02-04
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/20260122_FedericoFerriniCareerCelebration_0129-2-768x435.png
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 22 January 2026, a celebration was held at Palazzo Gnudi in Bologna, Italy, to** **honour the career of Federico Ferrini on the occasion of his retirement, following the completion of his almost eight-year tenure as CTAO Managing Director (2018–2025). The event brought together members of the CTAO Central Organisation and colleagues from different stages of Federico’s professional journey, who delivered speeches reflecting on his leadership, contributions, and lasting impact on the project and the astrophysics community.
+
+Federico [joined the CTAO as Managing Director](https://www.ctao.org/news/ferrini-begins-tenure-as-cta-managing-director/) in March 2018. During his tenure, he provided critical leadership and direction to the development of the CTAO as an observatory, overseeing the first phases of the establishment of the CTAO ERIC and many major milestones that laid the foundation for its future success. As he steps away from the CTAO ERIC, we would like to extend our sincere thanks for all of his contributions to the Observatory and the field.
+
+We wish him all the best in this new chapter!
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-lst-collaboration-finalises-mirror-installation-on-lst-3.md b/src/content/news/the-lst-collaboration-finalises-mirror-installation-on-lst-3.md
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+---
+title: "The LST Collaboration Finalises Mirror Installation on LST-3"
+description: "On 15 May, the CTAO LST Collaboration successfully completed the installation of all 198 mirror facets on LST-3, one of the Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) currently under construction at CTAO-North on La Palma, Spain. The mirror…"
+date: 2025-05-22
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/LST3-768x432.jpg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 15 May, the [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) successfully completed the installation of all 198 mirror facets on LST-3, one of the [Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) currently under construction at [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) on La Palma, Spain. The mirror installation process, which began on 31 March, is a meticulous and collaborative effort involving multiple research institutions and companies. Each mirror is installed individually, requiring careful alignment and coordination.
+
+Mirrors are a critical component of Cherenkov telescopes, as they reflect the faint Cherenkov light produced when high-energy gamma rays interact with Earth’s atmosphere onto the telescope’s camera. In the case of the LSTs—the largest class of CTAO telescopes—198 hexagonal mirrors are required to cover its massive 400 m² reflective surface (the equivalent of around two tennis courts).
+
+Each mirror facet is coated with a multi-layer material designed to maximise reflectivity while ensuring long-term durability. Mounted on a lightweight carbon-fiber structure, each mirror segment weighs just 50 kg. This balance between strength and weight allows the LST to maintain structural integrity while enabling rapid repositioning to capture brief, transient gamma-ray events.
+
+The mirrors are positioned 28 metres from the camera, forming a 23-metre diameter parabolic dish. This design creates a so-called isochronous surface, meaning that the reflected light coming from any point of the large dish arrives at the camera simultaneously—an essential feature for accurately reconstructing the particle showers caused by gamma-ray interactions and determining their origin in the sky.
+
+With the installation now complete, the LST Collaboration will proceed to equip each mirror with cables for precision actuators as part of the Active Mirror Control system. This system enables micron-level adjustments to each mirror, ensuring optimal pointing accuracy and observational performance.
+
+The LST Collaboration will continue working on the LST-3, along with the other two LSTs currently under construction at the site, with the next major milestone being the installation of one of the cameras. All three telescopes are expected to be completed by spring next year, joining the LST-1, inaugurated in 2018 and currently under commissioning.
+
+The companies and research groups from the LST Collaboration involved in the mirror installation are: CaSana (company and main work centre), Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (FZU), ICRR, University of Tokyo, Chiba University and shifters from INFN. For the cable work: FZU, Palacký University Olomouc, and MPP.
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-lst2-mechanical-structure-completed-with-installation-of-the-camera-support-structure.md b/src/content/news/the-lst2-mechanical-structure-completed-with-installation-of-the-camera-support-structure.md
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+---
+title: "LST-2 Mechanical Structure Completed with Installation of Camera Support Structure"
+description: "On 3 July, the CTAO LST Collaboration successfully installed the camera support structure (CSS) on the LST-2, one of the three Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs) currently under development on the CTAO-North site in La Palma, Spain. The CSS is…"
+date: 2025-07-11
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/LST2_CSS-e1751956452534-1600x1098.jpeg
+draft: false
+---
+
+On 3 July, the [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) successfully installed the camera support structure (CSS) on the LST-2, one of the three [Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs)](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/lst/) currently under development on the [CTAO-North](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-north/) site in La Palma, Spain. The CSS is a composite structure comprising a carbon-fibre arch made of six tubes and a camera frame that secures the telescope’s camera. With the CSS now in place, the LST-2’s mechanical structure is complete, paving the way for the integration of the optical elements.
+
+The CSS is responsible for holding the camera, which measures 3-by-3 metres and weights 2.5 tonnes, steady at the so-called focal distance, even as the telescope moves. The focal distance is the precise point where [all the reflected Cherenkov light converges and can be captured for analysis](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/science/how-ctao-works/). For the LSTs, this distance is approximately 28 metres, about the height of a ten-story building.
+
+The robust CSS, including the parabolic arch and camera frame, was designed by the LST team at LAPP (Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules) in France. This system is made of carbon fibre to keep the large structure stable and light, enabling rapid repositioning of the telescope while minimising shadowing of the camera.
+
+To reinforce and stabilise the CSS, the LST team at INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy) also installed a set of 26 carbon-fibre tension rods. With the full system in place, the camera remains extremely stable, shifting by less than 3 cm sideways and less than 1 cm towards the mirrors, even when the telescope is pointing directly upwards at the zenith.
+
+The installation on 3 July was coordinated by both teams. Following months of ground-level assembly and preparation, the teams used a 75-metre-high crane to lift and position the arch on the telescope. Rope access techniques were then employed to fine-tune the fittings along the arch before the crane was released. The operation concluded with the tensioning of all 26 rods.
+
+This achievement marks the installation of the final mechanical component of the LST-2, which now enters the integration phase, during which the optical systems, including the mirrors and camera, will be installed.
+
+The [CTAO LST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) is an In-Kind Contributor (IKC) for the Observatory, in charge of building the Large-Sized Telescopes (LSTs). The collaboration is made up of over 400 scientists and engineers from 67 different institutes across 11 countries: Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.
+
+Congratulations to the LST Collaboration for this milestone!
+
+*Preparation work for the CSS lift, with the camera frame visible in the picture. Credit: Alejandro Ruiz Sabina, IAC*
+
+*A 75-metre-high crane was used to lift and position the CSS. Credit: Alejandro Ruiz Sabina, IAC*
diff --git a/src/content/news/the-sst-camera-prototype-records-first-signals-during-test-campaign.md b/src/content/news/the-sst-camera-prototype-records-first-signals-during-test-campaign.md
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+---
+title: "The SST Camera Prototype Records First Signals During Test Campaign"
+description: "From 22 to 29 July, the CTAO SST Collaboration conducted a successful test campaign on the new camera prototype design for the Small-Sized Telescope (SST). The camera prototype was shipped to Tenerife, Spain, and integrated into the…"
+date: 2025-08-13
+category: news
+author: CTAO
+cover: /uploads/QCAMi_lab1-768x628.png
+draft: false
+---
+
+From 22 to 29 July, the [CTAO SST Collaboration](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) conducted a successful test campaign on the new camera prototype design for the [Small-Sized Telescope (SST).](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/sst/) The camera prototype was shipped to Tenerife, Spain, and integrated into the ASTRI-2 telescope, a pathfinder for the SST, for testing under real observational conditions. With a quarter of its full array of pixels installed, the camera recorded its first signals from the night sky just hours after installation, marking an important technical step in the SST’s ongoing development.
+
+When high-energy gamma rays interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, they produce a brief, faint flash of bluish [Cherenkov light](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/science/how-ctao-works/), lasting only a few nanoseconds (billionths of a second). Though invisible to the naked eye, this light can be captured by the ultra-fast, sensitive cameras of the CTAO telescopes. Depending on the telescope type, the CTAO uses different kinds of cameras, but all of them are composed of hundreds of detectors, or pixels.
+
+For the SST, the smallest of the CTAO’s [three telescope types](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/telescopes/), the camera consists of 2048 silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) that convert Cherenkov light into digital signals, enabling scientists to analyse and study gamma rays. As a complex and critical component, the camera must be rigorously tested at various stages of its development.
+
+*ASTRI-2 telescope in Tenerife with the camera prototype installed. Credit: Connor Duffy, U. Groningen*
+
+In July, the SST Collaboration conducted a comprehensive test campaign on the new SST camera prototype design, known as QCAMi. To evaluate its performance, the camera, equipped with a quarter of the total 2048 SiPMs, was installed on the ASTRI-2 telescope in Tenerife, in a collaborative effort with the [ASTRI Mini-Array project](http://www.astri.inaf.it/). ASTRI was designed not only as a stand-alone experiment, but also as a pathfinder for the SST.
+
+Within hours of installation, the prototype camera successfully recorded signals from the night sky, including muon rings and cosmic-ray showers moving across the camera in the nanosecond timescale. These tests are part of the planned prototyping phase, and the excellent results further validate the expectations of strong performance from the final camera. *Left: The left panel shows a Cherenkov cascade detected by the QCAMi, while the right panel shows a muon ring. Credit: SST Collaboration*
+
+The SSTs are optimised to detect the most energetic gamma rays within CTAO’s range, from 5 to 300 TeV, and will be installed at [CTAO-South](https://www.ctao.org/emission-to-discovery/array-sites/ctao-south/), the Observatory’s southern hemisphere array site. Standing nine metres tall and weighing 17,5 tonnes, each SST features a compact dual-mirror Schwarzschild–Couder optical system. This system includes a segmented 4,3-metre primary mirror made up of 18 hexagonal elements, which reflects light onto a 1,8-metre monolithic secondary mirror. This dual-mirror design provides excellent spatial resolution across a wide field of view while maintaining a compact focal length ideal for lightweight cameras.
+
+The SST Collaboration is an [In-Kind Contribution team](https://www.ctao.org/partners/in-kind-contributors/) for the CTAO, responsible for developing the SSTs. It is coordinated by the INAF institute from Italy and comprises research institutions and universities from Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and UK. The SST cameras will be built by a team of institutes from Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, UK, and Australia, led by the Max-Planck-Institute für Kernphysik in Heidelberg, Germany.
+
+The Italian participation in this campaign was supported by the Next Generation EU funds within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Mission 4 – Education and Research, Component 2 – From Research to Business (M4C2), Investment Line 3.1 – Strengthening and creation of Research Infrastructures, Project IR0000012 – “CTA+ – Cherenkov Telescope Array Plus.”