Atacama Large Millimeter Array
The Atacama Large Millimeter Array, also known as ALMA, is a group of special telescopes that help scientists study space. These telescopes are very different from regular telescopes that we may see in pictures or on TV shows.
Instead of looking at visible light like regular telescopes, ALMA looks at a special type of light called millimeter and submillimeter waves. Think of it like looking at the heat given off by a warm object like a campfire, but instead of heat, ALMA sees the waves given off by objects in space.
ALMA is located in the Atacama Desert in Chile, which is a very special place for telescopes because it has very little humidity in the air. This allows scientists to see space more clearly because the waves they are looking for don't get absorbed by water in the air.
The telescopes in ALMA are very big and heavy, like giant dishes that can move around and point at different parts of the sky. They work together like puzzle pieces to create one big telescope that is much more powerful than any single telescope out there.
Scientists use ALMA to study all sorts of things like planets, stars, and galaxies. The pictures and data they get from ALMA help them learn more about the universe, how it works, and where it all came from.
Instead of looking at visible light like regular telescopes, ALMA looks at a special type of light called millimeter and submillimeter waves. Think of it like looking at the heat given off by a warm object like a campfire, but instead of heat, ALMA sees the waves given off by objects in space.
ALMA is located in the Atacama Desert in Chile, which is a very special place for telescopes because it has very little humidity in the air. This allows scientists to see space more clearly because the waves they are looking for don't get absorbed by water in the air.
The telescopes in ALMA are very big and heavy, like giant dishes that can move around and point at different parts of the sky. They work together like puzzle pieces to create one big telescope that is much more powerful than any single telescope out there.
Scientists use ALMA to study all sorts of things like planets, stars, and galaxies. The pictures and data they get from ALMA help them learn more about the universe, how it works, and where it all came from.