Illustration of proposed millimeter-wavelength array

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Illustration of proposed millimeter-wavelength array

Artist's impression of a millimeter wavelength array

In 1983, eminent radio astronomers in the United States met to discuss priorities for an array of millimeter-wavelength telescopes. By 1990, Associated Universities, Inc. had a proposal in to the National Science Foundation for our Millimeter Array, or MMA, with this drawing shown here. The NSF approved further MMA planning in 1994, then Congress approved funding in 1997. By then, NRAO had begun conversations with Japan (and later Europe) about combining similar millimeter-wave array projects into one, which became, in 2000, ALMA.

Credit: NRAO/AUI/NSF

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