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2019 ALMA Top 10 2021 Science Highlights AAS June 2023 ALMA Astrophotography Project AR Models CDL Co-op Program Stories Desktop/Video Chat Backgrounds Image of the Week Jansky Lectures ngVLA Artist Impressions ngVLA Science Goals PHANGS-ALMA Catalog 2021 The Baseline VERTICO VLA Astrophotography Project VLASS Women in Astronomy IV 2017

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NRAO Dedication, 17 October 1957

NRAO Dedication, 17 October 1957more_horiz

Construction of First VLBA Antenna

Construction of First VLBA Antennamore_horiz

North Liberty VLBA antenna

VLBA Antenna in North Liberty, Iowamore_horiz

View of the Milky Way Galaxy seen from the ALMA Array Operations Site (AOS). The AOS is located on the Chajnantor plateau of the Chilean Andes, at an altitude of 5000 meters, making it the second highest building in the world. Light from the galaxy core shines even more brightly when captured at an altitude of 5000 meters – with so much less atmosphere to penetrate.

ALMA Looks at the Milky Waymore_horiz

The astro-modified camera used to take this photo lets in the hydrogen alpha light that is normally filtered out. This modification makes the camera more sensitive to the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum, thus giving a pink tint to the sky.

Green ALMA, Pink Milky Waymore_horiz

The red light at the top of the holography tower backlights the ALMA sign at the Operations Support Facility (OSF) while the core of the Milky Way Galaxy stands watch. The holography system is used to precisely calibrate the surface of the ALMA antennas.

Milky Way Galaxy and Holography Tower at ALMA OSFmore_horiz

The bright Moon washes out the fainter stars as it rests behind the ALMA sign at the Operations Support Facility (OSF).

ALMA Sign Up Closemore_horiz

The Milky Way Galaxy pours into an ALMA antenna. The astro-modified camera used to take this photo lets in the hydrogen alpha light that is normally filtered out. This modification makes the camera more sensitive to the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum, thus giving a pink tint to the sky. The green lights are used to show antenna activity.

ALMA and Pink Milky Waymore_horiz

The Milky Way Galaxy stretches over ALMA and the Chajnantor plateau of the Chilean Andes. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds can also be seen in this panorama that was stitched together from multiple photos.

ALMA Milky Way Panoramic 1more_horiz

Outside the ALMA Operations Support Facility (OSF), the second highest building in the world, fixtures are used sparingly to prevent light pollution from contaminating the incredible night sky. You can imagine that none of the stars in this photograph would have been visible if this light were on.

ALMA Street Lightmore_horiz

The Milky Way Galaxy stretches vertically behind the ALMA sign outside the Operations Support Facility (OSF).

ALMA Sign with Milky Way Backdropmore_horiz

The high and dry environment in the Atacama desert, surrounded by the Andes Mountains in northern Chile, provides some of the best opportunities for astronomy in the world.

Green ALMA Dishesmore_horiz

This panoramic photo reveals the impressive multi-sport athletic facility that includes a full-sized basketball court, volleyball court, and football pitch, hidden beneath this nearly opaque dome. ALMA staff use the facility to exercise and compete in soccer, basketball, volleyball, and more. The figure to the right of the dome helps to give it some sense of scale.

ALMA Multi-Cancha Under the Starsmore_horiz

A nighttime view of a high-altitude radio observatory shows several large parabolic antennas silhouetted against a dark plateau, while the bright, star-filled band of the Milky Way arches dramatically across the sky overhead.

ALMA with the Milky Waymore_horiz

The Large Magellanic Cloud, a view unique to the Southern Hemisphere, stands proudly above one of the 66 antennas that make up the ALMA array.

ALMA Dish Unique Views from the Southern Hemispheremore_horiz

It takes a village to run the most sophisticated radio observatory in the world. Sitting at 3000 meters, the ALMA Operations Support Facility (OSF) contains everything from housing and food services to generators and potable water supply – anything that's needed to support the hundreds of people that live and work at the site.

The Milky Way Galaxy Blankets the ALMA Operations Support Facilitymore_horiz

Photo taken by Bettymaya Foott as part of an astrophotography project with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).

Green ALMA Telescopes with the Milky Waymore_horiz

A meteor tries to steal the focus from the highly visible Large Magellanic Cloud, which is primarily visible to just the Southern Hemisphere. Meanwhile, one of ALMA’s 66 antennas focuses its attention elsewhere in the Universe.

ALMA with Large Magellanic Cloud Meteormore_horiz

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The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
	The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."
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