ALMA's First Arrival ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)

A 100-ton antenna has arrived at a plateau in the Chilean Andes as the first piece of the world's largest astronomical observatory. The ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) is designed to observe light with millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths -- between infrared light and radio waves – and help astronomers see light from some of the coldest and most distant objects at the edge of the observable universe.

The antenna's trek took place atop a Jawa-like crawler vehicle which navigated a winding road up to the 3-mile high plateau of Chajnantor. Two more antennas are slated to join the first ALMA antenna and link up by early 2010 to begin observations by 2011. But first they musts also make the journey through a bone-dry desert environment that suggests a scene on Tatooine.

[ALMA]

Want to read more articles on the military, aviation, and space? Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!

2 Comments

It would be pretty interesting if the gallery didn't say "You are not authorized to view this page"

If you do have restricted content ( for paid subscribers or whatever) -- that's fine with me. But, a little warning would be nice !

DestroyerKahn

from Newport News, VA

Yeah, first I thought it was b/c I was not logged in, but I am now and I still am not authorized. Harump!


138 years of Popular Science at your fingertips.

Innovation Challenges



Popular Science+ For iPad

Each issue has been completely reimagined for your iPad. See our amazing new vision for magazines that goes far beyond the printed page



Download Our App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone or Android phone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed


February 2012: The Future of Fun

Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?


circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif
bmxmag-ps