ALMA Telescope Takes Its First Sub-Millimeter Measurements of Space

Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) This artist's rendering shows what ALMA will look like upon completion in 2012. At 66 antennas strong, she's one beautiful array. NRAO

News from high in the Chilean Andes this morning: the ALMA observatory in Chile, the largest, most ambitious ground-based astronomy tool ever created, made its first measurements today from its overlook 17,400 above sea level. The interferometric measurements of radio signals, or "fringes," from a distant quasar at sub-millimeter wavelengths prove that ALMA isn't just hype, boasting unprecedented sensitivity and resolution.

And that's using just two of the eventual 66 antennas making up the array.

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Tags

Technology, Clay Dillow, alma, astronomy, big bang, eso, interferometers, radio telescope, Space

That's not to mention that she's one beautiful radio telescope. For a more extensive look at ALMA's trip up to the Atacama, check out our image gallery, or check out the galleries at the NRAO.

[BBC, NRAO]