The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is located in the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest and most isolated places on earth. The European Southern Observatory operates it.
ALMA is not a single telescope; it is made up of 66 high-precision antennas that together form a single, massive observing system. The array studies the universe at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, a range between infrared and radio wavelengths. This range allows scientists to examine regions where young stars are hidden in dust clouds, as well as distant galaxies whose light has faded and changed over billions of years.
ALMA operates as a single system, enabling it to capture the details of cosmic objects with unprecedented precision. The array allows us to study the formation of stars, the structure of galaxies, and the early stages of the universe. This scientific complex, operating in the silence of the Atacama, is today considered one of the most critical radio telescope centers in the world, providing unique data for the study of the universe.
