MAGIC telescopes. MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov) telescopes, located at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on the island of La Palma, Canary Islands. These telescopes are used to detect high-energy gamma rays by detecting the particles produced as the gamma rays impact the Earth's atmosphere. Gamma-ray sources studied include black holes, active galactic nuclei, X-ray binaries, and gamma ray bursts. The main telescope dishes are 17 metres across. The MAGIC telescopes began operating in 2004 and 2009. On the skyline is the silver dome of the Gran Telescopio Canarias.