The ASTRI Mini-Array project: status and science
Andrea Bulgarelli (INAF-OAS)
Wednesday 18/02/2026 @ 14:30, Sala Antonio Sollima (IV piano Battiferro)
The ASTRI Mini-Array is a next-generation Cherenkov observatory optimized for very-high-energy gamma-ray observations above a few TeV. Currently under deployment at the Observatorio del Teide, it is transitioning from single-telescope commissioning to stereoscopic operations and early science. Preliminary results from ASTRI-1 demonstrate excellent performance, including the detection of the Crab Nebula and wide off-axis response. First detections of extragalactic sources in flaring activity confirm the array’s capability for both steady and transient emitters. In this talk, we present the current status of the ASTRI project and outline its main scientific goals, spanning cosmic-ray origin, fundamental physics, and time-domain astrophysics.