Exploring the cosmic rays energy frontier with the Auger Observatory

<!--HTML-->The existence of cosmic rays with energies in excess of 10²⁰ eV represents a longstanding scientific mystery. Unveileing the mechanism and source of production/acceleration of particles of such enormous energies is a challenging experimental task due to their minute flux, roughly one km² century.<br /><br> The Pierre Auger Observatory, now nearing completion in Malargue, Mendoza Province, Argentina, is spread over an area of 3000 km². Two techniques are employed to observe the cosmic ray showers: detection of the shower particles on the ground and detection of fluorescence light produced as the shower particles pass through the atmosphere. I will describe the status of the Observatory and its detectors, and early results from the data recorded while the observatory is reaching its completion.<BR><BR><I>Organiser(s): L. Alvarez-Gaume / PH-TH</I><BR><BR><I>Note: * Tea & coffee will be served at 16:00.</I>