Largest telescope Alma starts functioning
Submitted by Sam Ross on October 4, 2011 - 7:38pm
The largest telescope named Alma has started its work as the European Southern Observatory has released the images of the collision of two galaxies. European Southern Observatory is among the organizations which are operating this giant telescope.
The images show the concentration of gases in the middle of both the galaxies, and also the region where they are colliding. The images were taken using just twelve antennas but, according to the astronomers, by 2013 Alma will be having 66 antennas.
Brad Whitmore of the Space Telescope Science Institute said, “With Alma, we will focus on the heart of the collision, the interaction region where the two galaxies are crashing together. We can then study the formation of the Antennae's most impressive fireworks and look into the cores of the giant molecular clouds where the star clusters are born.”
The giant telescope is situated at the border of Chile and Bolivia and is placed at 10,000 feet high. The giant telescope which is connected to a supercomputer will measure the light at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength due to which it will able to examine the cosmos better than any other telescope.
The North American Alma Project Manager from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Mark McKinnon said, “Alma's test views of the Antennae show us star forming regions on a level of detail that no other telescope on Earth or in space has attained. This capability can only get much better as Alma nears completion.”
The development of the Alma will continues till 2013 when Europe, North America, East Asia and the Republic of Chile will build more antennas to increase the power of this gigantic telescope.
