The TA observatory is a hybrid detector system consisting of both an array of 576507 scintillation surface detectors which measure the distribution of charged particles at the Earth's surface, and three fluorescence stations which observe the night sky above the SD array.<ref name="KawaiICRCAbuZayyad2012">HT. KawaiAbuZayyad et al., ProceedingsNuclear ofInstruments 29thand [[InternationalMethods Cosmicin RayPhysics Conference|ICRC]]Research Section A: (20052012) 181vol. 689</ref> Each fluorescence station is also accompanied by a LIDAR system for atmospheric monitoring.<ref name="chikawaICRC">M. Chikawa et al., Proceedings of 29th [[International Cosmic Ray Conference|ICRC]] (2005) 137</ref> The SD array is much like that of the [[AGASA]] group, but covers an area that is nine times larger. The hybrid setup of the Telescope Array project allows for simultaneous observation of both the longitudinal development and the lateral distribution of the air showers.
At the center of the ground array is the Central Laser Facility which is used for atmospheric monitoring and calibrations.
