Photo – Page 2 – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

ALMA and Pink Milky Way

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 Milky Way Panoramic 1

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 Street Light

Outside the ALMA Operations Support Facility (OSF), one of the highest altitude buildings 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.

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