In the 1997 movie Contact, Ellie Arroway is a young radio astronomer played by Jodie Foster. Ellie’s on a mission…
Put a Ring On It: How Gravity Gives Astronomers a Powerful Lens On the Universe
Gravity can change the path of light, and sometimes focuses the light of distant galaxies to create a gravitational lens or Einstein Ring. It is a common sight in modern deep field images, but the effect was first seen by the Very Large Array in 1987.
ALMA’s 2014 Ground-Breaking HL Tau Results Have Appeared in Over 1,000 Scientific Papers in Less Than a Decade
Ground-breaking 2014 HL Tau observational data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has been cited in more than 1,000 scientific studies in the past 7.5 years, aiding in major breakthroughs in scientists’ understanding of planet formation. The milestone comes as engineers at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) embark on ambitious upgrades to the receivers responsible for the clarity of initial observations.
Scientists on the Hunt for Planetary Formation Fossils Reveal Unexpected Eccentricities in Nearby Debris Disk
Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers have imaged the debris disk of the nearby star HD 53143 at millimeter wavelengths for the first time, and it looks nothing like they expected. Based on early coronagraphic data, scientists expected ALMA to confirm the debris disk as a face-on ring peppered with clumps of dust. Instead, the observations took a surprise turn, revealing the most complicated and eccentric debris disk observed to date.
Future of Earth’s Defense is Ground-Based Planetary Radar
The Planetary Science Decadal Survey indicated that new ground-based radar systems will be vital research tools for planetary defense and studying planets, moons, asteroids, and other Solar System objects. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Green Bank Observatory are developing new capabilities for the Green Bank Telescope and the Very Long Baseline Array that will meet those needs.
NRAO Researcher Receives Prestigious Engineering Award
An NRAO researcher is receiving an engineering award for an innovative development that is improving radio telescope performance and also is benefitting numerous other fields.