  The new axion helioscope at CERN started acquiring data during September of
2002: CAST (Cern Axion Solar Telescope) employs a decommissioned LHC dipole
magnet to convert putative solar axions or axion-like particles into detectable
photons. The unprecedented dipole magnet intensity and length (9.5 T, 10 m)
results in a projected sensitivity that surpasses astrophysical constraints on
these particles for the first time, increasing the chance of discovery. The use
of X-ray focusing optics and state-of-the-art detector technology has led to an
extremely low background for an experiment above ground. A brief status report
is given, with emphasis on the tracking and control system and possible future
extensions.
