The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array

1 High precision

ALMA is made up of 66 highprecision antennae, operating at wavelengths of 0.32 to 3.6 metres (1.0 to 11.8 feet). The main array is made up of 50 antennae, each measuring 12 metres (39.4 feet) in diameter. The array boasts a sensitivity ten times sharper than Hubble. 2 Making the invisible visible

Being able to observe in submillimetre wavelengths allows ALMA to build a picture of some of the coldest objects in the universe.

3 ALMA’s aims

Using data from ALMA, astronomers are able to peer into the chemical and physical conditions of dense clouds of gas and dust. The array is also able to collect light from some of the earliest and most distant galaxies.