Humanity’s most complex ground-based astronomy observatory, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, has officially opened for astronomers at its 16,500-feet elevation site in northern Chile.

Highly specialized, scientifically advanced antennas come together to capture never-before seen details about the cosmos.

A Socorro astronomer and his wife were sworn in as new U.S. Citizens in a ceremony at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Large Array radio telescope Wednesday. Dr. Emmanuel Momjian and his wife, Mari Jananian, took the oath of allegiance at a special event conducted by Peter Rechkemmer of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the oath administered by Patti JMK Reynolds, Albuquerque Field Office Director of the USCIS.

The ultimate in high altitude, high-tech catering has arrived in Chile to serve chilled provisions to the telescopes at the largest astronomical complex in the world, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array.

A galaxy with a combination of characteristics never seen before is giving astronomers a tantalizing peek at processes they believe played key roles in the growth of galaxies and clusters of galaxies early in the history of the Universe.

A new and uniquely powerful tool for cutting-edge science is emerging on the crisp, high desert of western New Mexico.