66 radio telescopes in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA ) is an astronomical interferometer of 66 radio telescopes in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile , which observe electromagnetic radiation at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths . The array has been constructed on the 5,000 m (16,000 ft) elevation Chajnantor plateau – near the Llano de Chajnantor Observatory and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment . This location was chosen for its high elevation and low humidity , factors which are crucial to reduce noise and decrease signal attenuation due to Earth's atmosphere.[ 1] ALMA provides insight on star birth during the early Stelliferous era and detailed imaging of local star and planet formation.[ 2] [ 3]
ALMA is an international partnership amongst Europe , the United States , Canada , Japan , South Korea , Taiwan , and Chile .[ 4] Costing about US$1.4 billion, it is the most expensive ground-based telescope in operation.[ 5] [ 6] ALMA began scientific observations in the second half of 2011 and the first images were released to the press on 3 October 2011. The array has been fully operational since March 2013.[ 7] [ 8]
^ Bustos, R.; Rubio, M.; Otárola, A.; et al. (2014). "Parque Astronómico de Atacama: An Ideal Site for Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Mid-Infrared Astronomy". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific . 126 (946): 1126. arXiv :1410.2451 . Bibcode :2014PASP..126.1126B . doi :10.1086/679330 . S2CID 118539242 .
^ Bae, Jaehan; Teague, Richard; Andrews, Sean M.; Benisty, Myriam; Facchini, Stefano; Galloway-Sprietsma, Maria; Loomis, Ryan A.; Aikawa, Yuri; Alarcón, Felipe; Bergin, Edwin; Bergner, Jennifer B.; Booth, Alice S.; Cataldi, Gianni; Cleeves, L. Ilsedore; Czekala, Ian; Guzmán, Viviana V.; Huang, Jane; Ilee, John D.; Kurtovic, Nicolas T.; Law, Charles J.; Gal, Romane Le; Liu, Yao; Long, Feng; Ménard, François; Öberg, Karin I.; Pérez, Laura M.; Qi, Chunhua; Schwarz, Kamber R.; Sierra, Anibal; Walsh, Catherine; Wilner, David J.; Zhang, Ke (1 August 2022). "Molecules with ALMA at Planet-forming Scales (MAPS): A Circumplanetary Disk Candidate in Molecular-line Emission in the AS 209 Disk" . The Astrophysical Journal Letters . 934 (2): L20. arXiv :2207.05923 . Bibcode :2022ApJ...934L..20B . doi :10.3847/2041-8213/ac7fa3 . S2CID 250492936 .
^ Plait, Phil (8 September 2022). "A still-forming exoplanet predicted to exist is found in exactly the right spot" . SYFY Official Site .
^ Long, Gideon (29 May 2016). "Alma telescope peers into space from Chile's mountains" . BBC News . Retrieved 29 May 2016 .
^ "ALMA Inauguration Heralds New Era of Discovery" . ESO - European Southern Observatory. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2014 .
^ Romero, Simon (7 April 2012). "At the End of the Earth, Seeking Clues to the Universe" . The New York Times . Retrieved 8 April 2012 .
^ Hernandez, Vladimir (2013-03-13). "Alma telescope: Ribbon cut on astronomical giant" . BBC News . BBC. Retrieved 13 March 2013 .
^ Spie (2014). "Pierre Cox plenary: ALMA Update". SPIE Newsroom . doi :10.1117/2.3201407.14 .