A 7-meter Japanese ALMA telescope rides on the back of an ALMA Transporter on its way from the assembly area up to the ALMA testing area of the Operations Support Facility. The testing area of the OSF, also known as base camp, is located at 2,900 meters above sea level.
Twilight at the ALMA OSF
Here we can view the testing area from the ALMA Operations Support Facility in northern Chile. Three North American 12-meter telescopes and one Japanese 12-meter telescope are currently undergoing tests in this photo taken during twilight. To the left, are four ALMA Transporters parked under cover.
Triplet of 7-meter Antennas
The Atacama Compact Array with four 7-meter Japanese telescopes and one 12-meter Japanese telescope. The ACA forms a tight group that provides sensitive coverage of the sky that can work with or separately from the rest of ALMA.
Dish assembly at the OSF
In the European telescope assembly area at the ALMA Operations Support Facility in northern Chile, a fully assembled 12-meter dish of a European ALMA telescope is rolled out of the temporary garage where its segments were glued together. A crane will then lift it and place it atop a base.
Carrying an ALMA antenna dish
A fully assembled 12-meter dish of a European ALMA telescope is lifted for placement atop a base in the European telescope assembly area at the ALMA Operations Support Facility in northern Chile. Each antenna weighs over 100 tons and, once completed, the antennas are transfered to ALMA’s high site on a transporter that weighs over 130 tons.
The testing area telescopes of ALMA’s OSF
Here are all three of the ALMA telescopes in the testing area of the ALMA Operations Support Facility in northern Chile. From left to right, they are the European, Japanese, and North American antennas. Since the array was completed in 2013, these three telescopes are now on display for visitors to ALMA’s museum and Operations Support Facility.