The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international partnership of Europe, North America and East Asia in cooperation with the Republic of Chile, is the largest astronomical project in existence. ALMA will be a single telescope of revolutionary design, composed initially of 66 high precision antennas located on the Chajnantor plateau, 5000 meters altitude in northern Chile.
Newsletter No. 9
This ninth ALMA newsletter comes within the first ever period of ALMA observing
ALMA's World At Night
A panoramic view of the Chajnantor plateau showing the antennas of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) ranged across the unearthly landscape.
Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), Tafreshi (ESO/twanight.org)
The ALMA antennas are designed and built to face very rough conditions.
Indeed, while ALMA is located on one of the driest places on Earth, in very rare occasions snow can cover the 5,000 meter Chajnantor plateau where the antennas are located
Credit:ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), C. Padilla(NRAO/AUI/NSF)
General view of the ALMA antennas on the Chajnantor plateau
The cloudy sky is a consequence of the altiplanic winter, name given to a meteorological phenomenon that strikes the north of Chile every year during the southern hemisphere summer.
Credit:ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), C. Padilla(NRAO/AUI/NSF)
Night in Chajnantor...
The ALMA antennas scrutinize the mysteries of the universe 24 hours a day.
Credit:ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), C. Padilla(NRAO/AUI/NSF)
ALMA reveals its first image
The most powerful millimeter/submillimeter-wavelength telescope in the world opens for business and reveals its first image.
Nineteen ALMA antennas on the Chajnantor plateau
This picture of the ALMA antennas on the Chajnantor Plateau, 5000 m above sea level, was taken a few days before the start of ALMA Early Science.
Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), W. Garnier (ALMA).
