Photo – Page 2 – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

ALMA Street Light

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 Sign with Milky Way Backdrop

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

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.

ALMA Multi-Cancha Under the Stars

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 with the Milky Way

Countries from around the world have invested in and developed cutting-edge observatories that take advantage of the incredible Chilean skies. Within and around the Milky Way, dark areas of dense clouds hide phenomena that are invisible to optical observatories. ALMA views the radio (long-wavelength) end of the electromagnetic spectrum and can peer into these clouds to solve cosmic mysteries previously hidden from sight.

ALMA Dish Unique Views from the Southern Hemisphere

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.

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..."
	AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.