ALMA – Page 16 – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Moon as seen by ALMA

First radio image of the Moon taken with a 12-meter ALMA antenna. The optical image at left shows the sunlight reflected by the Moon’s surface, whereas the radio image shows the physical temperature distribution of the Moon. The ALMA image clearly shows the temperature distribution of the Moon, including weak radio emission from the dark side of the Moon.

HCN in Titan’s Atmosphere

ALMA image of the distribution of the organic molecule HCN in the upper atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. The denser, brighter concentrations are shown near the moon’s north and south poles. Their shifted, off-axis locations were unexpected and could help researchers better understand Titan’s complex atmospheric processes. The globe outline represents Titan’s orientation at the time of the observations.

HC3N in Titan’s Upper Atmosphere

ALMA image of the distribution of the organic molecule HC3N in the upper atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. The denser, brighter concentrations are shown near the moon’s north and south poles. Their shifted, off-axis locations were unexpected and could help researchers better understand Titan’s complex atmospheric processes. The globe outline represents Titan’s orientation at the time of the observations.

ALMA Captures Explosive Star Birth

Composite image of the OMC-1 cloud in Orion showing the sometimes explosive nature of star birth, when several young stars were ejected from the region. The colors in the ALMA data represent the relative Doppler shifting of the millimeter-wavelength light emitted by carbon monoxide gas. The ALMA image is combined with a near infrared image from the Gemini South telescope showing shock waves produced by the explosion.

Curious spiral spotted by ALMA around red giant star R Sculptoris

Observations using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have revealed an unexpected spiral structure in the material around the old star R Sculptoris. This feature has never been seen before and is probably caused by a hidden companion star orbiting the star. This slice through the new ALMA data reveals the shell around the star, which shows up as the outer circular ring, as well as a very clear spiral structure in the inner material.

Einstein Ring in Stunning Image of SDP.81

ALMA’s highest resolution image ever of an Einstein Ring reveals the dust glowing inside the distant galaxy SDP.81. The ring structure was created by a gravitational lens that distorted the view of the distant galaxy into a ring-like structure.

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