gLOWCOST Network

Cosmic ray muon detector sites of the gLOWCOST network as of Jan 1, 2025.

In the United States, in addition to numerous detectors operating in and around Atlanta, a detector was installed at Mt. Wilson, California, in June 2023, and another at Apache Point Observatory in February 2024. On December 26, 2024, a detector was deployed at Sky View Middle School in Massachusetts. This deployment, led by Dr. Megan Connors, marks the first STEM outreach initiative involving detector installation outside the Atlanta area.

A key goal of the gLOWCOST network is to install as many low-cost, portable cosmic ray muon detectors as possible worldwide, enabling precise, near real-time monitoring of space weather and dynamic changes in the upper atmosphere. This network will also provide complementary tools for NASA and other space agencies to enhance monitoring of space weather activities. Additionally, it serves as an ideal platform for fostering international STEM outreach, breaking barriers of language, culture, and physical distance.

The gLOWCOST network’s international expansion began in March 2023, with the first detectors installed at Uva Wellassa University and Colombo University in Sri Lanka. In August 2023, installations followed at the University of Magdalena in Santa Marta, Colombia, and in Singapore. The network extended to Africa with a deployment in Abuja, Nigeria, in late April 2024, and continued into Europe in June 2024 with two detectors installed at the Institute of Physics in Belgrade, Serbia.