Gamma ray astronomy

Abstract The energy domain between 10 MeV and hundreds of GeV is an essential one for the multifrequency study of extreme astrophysical sources. The understanding of spectra of detected gamma rays is necessary for developing models for acceleration, emission, absorption and propagation of very high-energy particles at their sources and in space. After the end of EGRET on board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory this energy region is not covered by any other experiment, at least up to 50 GeV where ground Cerenkov telescopes are beginning to take data. Here we will review the status of the space experiments that will fill this energy region: AGILE and GLAST, with particular emphasis at the connection with all the other ground planned experiments and at the contribution of these experiments to particle physics.