description Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Overview
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a powerful radio telescope located in Chile's Atacama Desert. It utilizes an international collaboration to observe celestial objects at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. ALMA’s high sensitivity allows astronomers to study the formation of stars and planets, as well as the composition of intergalactic gas clouds. Researchers and students involved in astrophysics and cosmology benefit greatly from its data.
help Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array FAQ
How many antennas does ALMA use and what sizes are they?
ALMA consists of 66 high-precision radio antennas: 54 measuring 12 meters in diameter and 12 smaller dishes measuring 7 meters. The antennas can be repositioned across distances of up to roughly 16 kilometers on the Chajnantor Plateau to achieve extremely high angular resolution.
What altitude is ALMA located at and why was that site chosen?
ALMA sits at approximately 5,000 meters (about 16,400 feet) above sea level on the Chajnantor Plateau in Chile's Atacama Desert. This extreme altitude was chosen because the thin, dry atmosphere minimizes signal-absorbing water vapor at the millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths ALMA observes.
What are some major discoveries made by ALMA?
ALMA has produced detailed images of planet-forming dust rings around young stars and detected complex organic molecules in distant protoplanetary systems. It also contributed high-frequency data that complemented the Event Horizon Telescope's 2019 image of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87.
Which countries collaborate on the ALMA observatory?
ALMA is a partnership between Europe (represented by ESO), North America (represented by the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory), and East Asia (represented by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. The observatory was inaugurated in 2013 as one of the most ambitious ground-based astronomy projects ever built.
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