Editing European Southern Observatory (section)

==== Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array ====
{{Main|Atacama Large Millimeter Array}}

ALMA is an astronomical interferometer initially composed of 66 high-precision antennas and operating at wavelengths of 0.3 to 3.6&nbsp;mm. Its main array will have 50 {{convert|12|m|adj=on}} antennas acting as a single [[interferometer]]. An additional compact array of four 12-metre and twelve {{convert|7|m|adj=on}} antennas, known as the Morita array is also available.<ref>{{Cite web |last=information@eso.org |date=2013-05-07 |title=ALMA Compact Array Completed and Named After Japanese Astronomer |url=https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann13040/ |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=www.eso.org |language=en}}</ref> The antennas can be arranged across the desert plateau over distances from 150 metres to {{convert|16|km}}, which will give ALMA a variable "zoom". The array will be able to probe the universe at millimetre and submillimeter wavelengths with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, with vision up to ten times sharper than the [[Hubble Space Telescope]]. These images will complement those made with the [[VLT Interferometer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/alma.html |title=ESO ALMA |access-date=2011-05-04 |archive-date=2013-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810124241/http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/alma.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ALMA is a collaboration between East Asia (Japan and [[Taiwan]]), Europe (ESO), North America (US and Canada) and Chile.

The scientific goals of ALMA include studying the origin and formation of stars, galaxies, and planets with observations of molecular gas and dust, studying distant galaxies towards the edge of the observable universe and studying [[Cosmic microwave background radiation|relic radiation]] from the [[Big Bang]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://almascience.nrao.edu/alma-science |title=ALMA Science—ALMA Science Portal |access-date=2011-05-04 |archive-date=2020-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517003426/https://almascience.nrao.edu/alma-science |url-status=live }}</ref> A call for ALMA science proposals was issued on 31 March 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://almascience.nrao.edu/call-for-proposals |title=Call for Proposals—ALMA Science Portal |access-date=2011-05-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114071735/https://almascience.nrao.edu/call-for-proposals |archive-date=2011-11-14 }}</ref> and early observations began on 3 October.<ref>{{cite news |title=ALMA Early Science Cycle 0 Call for Proposals |url=https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma |publisher=NRAO |access-date=2011-05-04 |archive-date=2011-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725223434/https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1137/|title=ALMA Opens its Eyes|access-date=2011-10-05|archive-date=2011-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005095244/http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1137/|url-status=live}}</ref>