Abstract

The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) is a project to construct a 6.5-meter telescope optimized for infrared observations at the summit of Co. Chajnantor, 5,640 m altitude. The high altitude and low water vapor (0.5mm in 25% percentile) of the site provide wide wavelength coverage from 0.3 to 38 micron including continuous window from 0.9 to 2.5 micron and new windows at wavelength longer than 25 micron. We report on the design and the current status of the mirror, the telescope, the summit and the base facilities in this paper.