The Giant ALMA Observatory Inauguration

On 13 March 2013 the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the largest ground-based astronomical project in the world, was inaugurated. ALMA will explore the Universe via millimeter and submillimeter wavelength light. It is located in the Atacama desert of northern Chile, one of the world\’s best sites for observational astronomy. At an elevation of 16,500 feet above sea level. The scientific communities of North America, Europe, and East Asia together built the observatory, with total cost about $1.3 billion. Completed ALMA has a total of 66 antennas, 25 from North America, 25 from Europe, and 16 from East Asia.

credit: European Southern Observatory          ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)