Behind the dish of each ALMA antenna sits one of these Front Ends, the chilled coolers that hold the suite of cutting-edge receivers.
Each receiver was hand-crafted in one of three different laboratories around the world. They were brought together to be assembled into this cryogenic unit and shipped to Chile for installation inside each of ALMA’s 66 antennas.
Moon Over 12-meter ALMA Telescope
In November 2012, the 25th of 25 North American ALMA antennas was accepted into the array. Here it is at sunset on that day, with a full Moon setting behind it.
Moon Over 12-meter ALMA Telescopes
A full Moon perches over ALMA’s Operations Support Facility in northern Chile where a Japanese 12-meter antenna and two North American 12-meter antennas undergo final testing before being moved into the array.
ALMA Test Facility and the VLA from Above
Flying over the Very Large Array in New Mexico when the ALMA Test Facility had not yet been dismantled. In the foreground sit two 12-meter prototype antennas, while the giant dishes of the VLA are hard at work behind them.
ALMA Test Facility and the VLA
When this aerial shot of the Very Large Array was taken, the ALMA Test Facility was still in place. The smaller dishes in the foreground are two prototype antennas for ALMA.
Ease on Down the Road
On a schedule that runs throughout the year, the 27 antennas of the Very Large Array in New Mexico ride the red Antenna Transporters to new pads in the array. The VLA Safety crew keeps a close watch on the move.