Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array

E32871

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array is a powerful astronomical observatory composed of dozens of radio antennas that study the cold universe—such as star and planet formation—by observing millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf astronomical observatory
interferometer
radio telescope array
abbreviation ALMA
altitude about 5000 meters above sea level
angularResolution milliarcsecond scale at highest frequencies
bandCoverage approximately 30 GHz to 950 GHz
constructionStart 2004
country Chile
environment high-altitude desert
firstScienceObservations 2011
fundedBy East Asia
Europe
North America
Republic of Chile
hasComponent Atacama Compact Array
inaugurationDate 2013
includes 12 7-meter antennas
4 12-meter total-power antennas
50 12-meter antennas
locatedAt Chajnantor Plateau
locatedIn Atacama Desert
Chile
managedBy European Southern Observatory
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
maximumBaseline about 16 kilometers
notableDiscovery detailed images of protoplanetary disk HL Tauri
detailed observations of distant star-forming galaxies
numberOfAntennas 66
observes continuum emission
dust emission
molecular gas
spectral lines
operatedBy ESO
Joint ALMA Observatory
NAOJ
NRAO
primaryScienceGoal study of the cold universe
reasonForLocation extremely dry atmosphere suitable for submillimeter observations
studies galaxies in the early universe
molecular clouds
planet formation
protoplanetary disks
star formation
technology aperture synthesis
uses radio interferometry
wavelengthRange millimeter
submillimeter


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