33RD INTERNATIONAL COSMIC RAY CONFERENCE, RIO DE JANEIRO 2013 THE ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS CONFERENCE Observation of the Moon Shadow and Characterization of the Point Response

Abstract: The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory is a TeV gamma-ray and cosmic-ray detector currently under construction at an altitude of 4100 meters at volcano Sierra Negra in the state of Puebla, Mexico. Data taking has started during construction, and after nine months of operation, the air shower statistics are already sufficient to perform detailed studies of cosmic rays observed at the site. We report on the detection and study of the moon shadow and its deflection due to the geomagnetic field. From the observation of the moon shadow and simulations, we infer the pointing accuracy and the angular resolution of HAWC for cosmic rays