Green ALMA Dishes

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Green ALMA Dishes

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.

Credit: NSF/ AUI/ NSF NRAO/ B.Foott

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ALMA Radio Telescopes and Technology

ALMA Astrophotography Project

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More ALMA Images & Videos

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 Way

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 Way

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 OSF

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

ALMA Sign Up Close

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 Way

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 1

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 Light

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 Stars

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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