CACTUS

{{about|a telescope in California|the plant|cactus|other uses|Cactus (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox Observatory

|name = CACTUS

|image =

|caption = Solar II collector (prior to Observatory use)

|organization = University of California, Davis

|location = Daggett, California, US

|coords = {{coord|34.87187|N|116.83419|W|display=inline}}

|altitude = {{convert|610|m|ft}}

|weather =

|established = 2001-2004

|closed = 2005

|telescope1_name = Solar 2 ACT

|telescope1_type = Čerenkov air shower

}}

CACTUS (Converted Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescope Using Solar-2) was a ground-based, Air Cherenkov Telescope (ACT) located outside Daggett, California, near Barstow. It was originally a solar power plant called Solar Two, but was converted to an observatory starting in 2001. The first astronomical observations started in the fall of 2004. However, the facility had its last observing runs in November 2005 as funds for observational operations from the National Science Foundation were no longer available.{{cite web|url=http://ucdcms.ucdavis.edu/solar2/history.php |title=History of Solar Two |accessdate=2009-02-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703165605/http://ucdcms.ucdavis.edu/solar2/history.php |archivedate=July 3, 2008 }} The facility was operated by the University of California, Davis but owned by Southern California Edison.{{cite web

|url=http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CA4989/

|title=Solar Two Experimental Solar Facility

|accessdate=2009-05-29

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515110355/http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CA4989

|archive-date=2009-05-15

|url-status=dead

}}

It was demolished in 2009.[http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/bang-7374-daggett-going.html Going out with a bang | bang, daggett, going - Top Story - Desert Dispatch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218183756/http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/bang-7374-daggett-going.html |date=2012-02-18 }}

File:CACTUS Observatory tower.jpg

File:CACTUS Observatory tower in Mirrors.jpg