Questions about Atacama Large Millimeter Array

Short answers, pulled from the story.

Where is the Atacama Large Millimeter Array located?

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array is situated on the Chajnantor plateau 5,000 meters above sea level in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. This specific site was selected for its high elevation and low humidity to reduce noise and decrease signal attenuation caused by Earth's atmosphere.

Who are the international partners involved with the Atacama Large Millimeter Array?

Atacama Large Millimeter Array operates as an international partnership among Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile. The project began as a collaboration between the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and European Southern Observatory before expanding to include other global partners.

When did construction of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array begin and end?

Antennae were delivered to the Atacama Large Millimeter Array site from December 2008 to September 2013. The array has been fully operational since March 2013 despite various interruptions including strikes and cyber attacks.

How many telescopes does the Atacama Large Millimeter Array contain?

Sixty-six antennae now compose the main array of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array while the Atacama Compact Array enhances wide-field imaging capability. Three prototype antennae underwent evaluation at the Very Large Array since 2002 before full deployment.

What major scientific discoveries has the Atacama Large Millimeter Array made?

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array contributed to the Event Horizon Telescope project producing the first direct image of a black hole published in 2019. It also released studies detailing chemical distribution inside comets C/2012 F6 (Lemmon) and C/2012 S1 (ISON) on the 11th of August 2014.