Where is the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array?
Quick Answer
ALMA is in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, on the Chajnantor Plateau. The observatory sits at about 5,000 meters above sea level.
The Full Story
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, or ALMA, is located in northern Chile on the Chajnantor Plateau in the Atacama Desert. Its site is about 5,000 meters above sea level, where the air is thin and extremely dry, ideal for observing faint millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths from space. ALMA is made up of 66 high-precision radio antennas and is operated by an international partnership of observatories. It helps astronomers study star formation, distant galaxies, and the chemistry of the early universe. The location is crucial because water vapor in the atmosphere can interfere with the signals ALMA measures.
Key Facts
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