What Is The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)?

What is the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)?

High on the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), together with its international partners, is operating the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) — a state-of-the-art telescope to study light from some of the coldest objects in the Universe. This light has wavelengths of around a millimetre, between infrared light and radio waves, and is therefore known as millimetre and submillimetre radiation. ALMA comprises 66 high-precision antennas, spread over distances of up to 16 kilometres. This global collaboration is the largest ground-based astronomical project in existence.

The antennas can be moved across the desert plateau over distances from 150 m to 16 km, which will give ALMA a powerful variable “zoom”, similar in its concept to that employed at the Very Large Array (VLA) site in New Mexico, United States.

What is submillimetre astronomy?

Light at these wavelengths comes from vast cold clouds in interstellar space, at temperatures only a few tens of degrees above absolute zero, and from some of the earliest and most distant galaxies in the Universe. Astronomers can use it to study the chemical and physical conditions in molecular clouds — the dense regions of gas and dust where new stars are being born. Often these regions of the Universe are dark and obscured in visible light, but they shine brightly in the millimetre and submillimetre part of the spectrum.

Why build ALMA in the high Andes?

Millimetre and submillimetre radiation opens a window into the enigmatic cold Universe, but the signals from space are heavily absorbed by water vapour in the Earth’s atmosphere. Telescopes for this kind of astronomy must be built on high, dry sites, such as the 5000-m high plateau at Chajnantor, one of the highest astronomical observatory sites on Earth.

The ALMA site, some 50 km east of San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile, is in one of the driest places on Earth. Astronomers find unsurpassed conditions for observing, but they must operate a frontier observatory under very difficult conditions. Chajnantor is more than 750 m higher than the observatories on Mauna Kea, and 2400 m higher than the VLT on Cerro Paranal.

Source: eso.org

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matthewjopdyke

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In Pathway to the Stars: Part 2, Eliza Williams, Eliza and Yesha journey through their young lives together, sharing great ideas. “If we want to traverse the cosmos, we will need to be bringers of life, beauty inside and out, abundance, and have the ability to bridge understanding between multiple civilizations, so we can tackle even greater issues together.

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Experience the early life of the scientific hero, Eliza Williams, and through her the beginning of a new era. Vesha Celeste continues her Virtual Universe training witnessing Eliza's life with experiential immersion, the added advantages of time-dilation, neural linking, tactile-reference, and more.

Engage yourself in the critical details, ups, and downs, leading to Eliza's transformation and the formation of her new organization. Eliza's first biopods for physiological and neurological optimizations will be among her primary vehicles driving advances and designs positively affecting human progress solar-system-wide. There is a lot for Vesha to learn, and through this, she will become phenomenal in intellect and abilities. Will Eliza be able to release everything right away? What measures will she take to protect humanity from her powerful tools if they were to get into the wrong hands?

#SpaceOpera #Scifi #Fantasy #Physics #Nueroscience #Biology #Biotech #Longevity #TheoreticalScience #Imagination #Sophistication #Audiobook #eBook #Paperback #ScifiAuthor

ASIN: B0833DH59X Audible: https://adbl.co/37aEYpf Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0833DH59X

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matthewjopdyke

8 years ago

Just a tune, courtesy of Balligomingo, Garrett Schwartz, Vic Levak, and Beverly Staunton that I've enjoyed for a while.

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matthewjopdyke

4 years ago

Jupiter and Saturn appear to the naked eye as a single star, dubbed the "Christmas Star," last seen 800 years ago. Viewed from my deck. 🤩 #christmasstar #jupitersaturnconjunction https://www.instagram.com/p/CJFbSF2rMPv/?igshid=tz61xuv73023

NASA Kepler’s Scientists Are Doing What Seems Impossible: Turning Pixels Into Planets

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matthewjopdyke

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The Pinwheel Galaxy has around a trillion stars, twice the number in the Milky Way. [6000 × 4690]

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matthewjopdyke

5 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/embed/NLrOeExSTBE?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque

For all interested (in the US), October 11th, 2019 is the last full day with an opportunity to win the free hardcover book: A Cosmic Legacy: From Earth to the Stars Contemporary Science Fiction Author Matthew J. Opdyke is giving away two of his one-year-anniversary novels. This includes all his previously published content in the continuing saga, via his compilation (a $45 value). Race to win, or simply buy it, and make this grand literary opus the favorite item in your library, next to your reading corner, on your nightstand, or in your living room, as you settle and read while the days go by. Enjoy the story of several heroes who do as much as they can to heal the Earth, provide healing to those suffering most, and help humanity get out and into the Cosmos! LCCN: 2019911854 ISBN: 978-1-7333131-2-4

To head straight to Amazon for a free chance to win, follow this link: https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/1891f3f0b29c9788

To see the author's latest video, follow this URL: https://youtu.be/NLrOeExSTBE

For the Author's Google Business Promo, follow this URL:https://bit.ly/2IGRNhi

LCCN: 2019911854 ISBN: 978-1-7333131-2-4

Music by and courtesy of Dreamstate Logic: http://dreamstatelogic.com/updates.html https://www.youtube.com/dreamstatelogic #SpaceOpera #ScienceFiction #SciFi #ContemporarySciFi #Fantasy #Sophisticated #Books #eBooks #MatthewJOpdyke #mjopublications #physics #astronomy #biotech #neurotech #nanotech #spaceexploration #wellbeing #EarthFirst #physiology #neurology #longevity #CRISPR #sociopoliticalscifi #forEveryone

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matthewjopdyke

6 years ago

Happy Holidays! https://www.instagram.com/p/BroSlILgeTY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=l5400fyporq0

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matthewjopdyke

8 years ago

A nice little summary of stars that passed nearby, or that may yet pass by, and their affects on our solar system...

http://futurismnews.tumblr.com/

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matthewjopdyke

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Proud to Announce...

Proud to Announce…

Here is a portion of an email I received today. After three years of research, breathing life into new characters, and helping the world enjoy their journey, I found I had to divide my novel into two parts. So, there will be a Part 1 and a Part 2. Without further ado:

“Congratulations! Your book “Further Than Before: Pathway to the Stars” is available for pre-order in the Kindle Store. It is…

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matthewjopdyke

5 years ago

Pathway to the Stars: Part 10, Sky Taylor

"In a benevolent society, you are safe, I am safe, everyone is safe, and our potential for innovations that reduce unnecessary suffering can know no bounds. Only in a benevolent, ethical, and moral society—a society and a worldwide civilization that seeks to preserve life, and bolster well-being, will we possess the mentality and the evolved capacity to preserve our Earth, our Solar System, and our humanity...

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LCCN: 2019919232 ISBN: 978-1-951321-11-6 eBook: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B081XLBL1G Paperback: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1951321111

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