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ALMA Compact Configuration

Caption:

An artist's conception of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in Compact Configuration. When construction is finished in 2011, ALMA will be the world’s largest and most powerful radio telescope, operating at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths. [See related image: Antennas for ALMA.]

Important: Use of this image is restricted. Please see “Restrictions” (below) for complete information.

More about this Image
The construction and operation of ALMA will be funded through a joint agreement between the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the European Southern Observatory. NSF will execute the project through the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Charlottesville, VA. NRAO is operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities Inc.

ALMA will be an array of 64, 12-meter radio antennas that will work together as one telescope to study millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength light from space. These wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cross the critical boundary between infrared and microwave radiation, hold the key to understanding such processes as planet and star formation, the formation of early galaxies and galaxy clusters, and the detection of organic and other molecules in space. The telescope will be built at an altitude of 16,500 feet in the Atacama Desert in the Chilean Andes. The site was chosen because it is considered the best location on Earth to study millimeter and sub-millimeter light because the wavelengths are absorbed by moisture in the atmosphere.
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NRAO/AUI CONDITIONS OF USE
This image is owned by NRAO/AUI. The materials created, authored, and/or prepared by NRAO are copyrighted in content, presentation, and intellectual or creative origin. Use of NRAO/AUI images constitutes acceptance of these guidelines.

GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR USE
  • NRAO/AUI images may not be used to constitute, state, or imply the endorsement by NRAO/AUI, the NSF, or any NRAO/AUI employee of an individual, commercial product, process, service, or activity.
  • Use of NRAO/AUI names and/or logos in publicity, promotion, or advertising is prohibited without prior written consent of NRAO/AUI.
  • NRAO/AUI should be acknowledged as the source of its materials, products, and technologies.
  • It is unlawful to falsely claim copyright or other rights in NRAO/AUI material.
  • NRAO/AUI shall in no way be liable for any costs, expenses, claims or demands arising out of use of NRAO/AUI images by a recipient or a recipient's distributee's.
  • NRAO/AUI personnel are not authorized to sign "hold harmless" statements or documents granting exclusive rights.
ELECTRONICALLY AVAILABLE IMAGES
Electronic products such as images and captions created and/or prepared by NRAO are copyrighted in content, presentation, and intellectual origin. These electronically available materials are considered intellectual property and are intended for use for educational, academic, and research purposes and are not intended for commercial use.

Electronic versions of images are protected by copyright as intellectual property unless noted otherwise.

A. Credit and Copyright Statements
Any use of NRAO images should include the following credit statement:

"National Radio Astronomy Observatory/Associated Universities, Inc./National Science Foundation" or "NRAO/AUI/NSF"
Additional credit lines may be required for specific images.

Some images have been copyrighted by individuals. In these cases, please use the copyright specified. Please contact the individual if questions arise.

B. Usage Categories
Three general categories are defined for the use of NRAO images: 1) Educational/Research, 2) Commercial, and 3) Personal (Non-Profit).

In all three categories, electronic products may not be used in an inappropriate manner. Inappropriate use includes but is not limited to: religious materials, gang related materials, ethnic background materials, and political information. Inappropriate use also includes derogatory use of reproductions, authorship of derivative works, and other transformations of the original work. The use of images must not imply endorsement by NRAO/AUI of organizations, products, or services using the images.

1) Educational/Research Use: NRAO allows reproduction, authorship of derivative works, and other transformations of the original work strictly for educational and research purposes without further permission, subject to the General Conditions section stated above. Some examples of non-commercial uses for educational and research purposes are: academic curricula developed by teachers, research papers written by students or scholars, non-profit educational or non-profit research publications produced by authors or publishers, educational outreach activities composed by amateur astronomers and news media stories. For other non-commercial uses, permission should be obtained from NRAO/AUI.

2) Commercial Use: For copyrighted materials, permission should be obtained from the copyright owner, NRAO/AUI, prior to use. NRAO will work with vendors on a case by case basis to establish appropriate permissions for use, which in some cases may involve a fee or royalty agreement. If a recognizable person appears in an image, use for commercial purposes may infringe a right of privacy or publicity, and permission should be obtained from the recognizable person. Some examples of commercial uses are: non-educational book publications, non-news magazines, calendars, logos and retail products. Commercial vendors should submit a description of the intended use of the images to the contact address below for verification of appropriate use.

3) Personal, Non-Profit Use: NRAO allows reproduction, authorship of derivative works, and other transformations of the original work strictly for personal, non-profit / non-commercial / non-retail use without further permission, subject to the second paragraph under II.B. and the General Conditions section stated above. Some examples of personal, non-profit/non-commercial/non-retail uses are downloading images for personal posters or screensavers or as gifts for friends and relatives.

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If further information or assistance is needed, please contact Public Information (by e-mail: info@nrao.edu), National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 520 Edgemont Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22903.

ALMA Compact Configuration
(Preview Only)

Credit: Image courtesy of NRAO/AUI and ESO
Year of Image: 2002

Categories:

ASTRONOMY / Observatories

Formats Available:

TIFF Format - 8.09M - 1347 x 2098 pixel image - 118 DPI

Sorry! This image is not available in a higher resolution.

Restrictions:

See “NRAO/AUI CONDITIONS OF USE,” under caption (above).

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Last Modified: Mar 29, 2001