Alma the world's most complex ground-based Observatory has just opened
Alma the world's most complex ground-based Observatory has just opened

for business the telescope is still being built and its capabilities will
for business the telescope is still being built and its capabilities will

continue to grow over the coming year but even at this early stage its images
continue to grow over the coming year but even at this early stage its images

reveal a view of the universe that is invisible to normal telescopes thousands
reveal a view of the universe that is invisible to normal telescopes thousands

of scientists from around the world have competed to be among the first to use
of scientists from around the world have competed to be among the first to use

Alma with it they hope to explore some of the darkest coldest service and most
Alma with it they hope to explore some of the darkest coldest service and most

hidden secrets of the cosmos this is the esocast
hidden secrets of the cosmos this is the esocast

cutting-edge science and life behind the scenes of ESO the European Southern
cutting-edge science and life behind the scenes of ESO the European Southern

Observatory exploring the ultimate frontier with our host dr. J aka dr. Joe
Observatory exploring the ultimate frontier with our host dr. J aka dr. Joe

Liske hello and welcome to the esocast in this episode we'll get the latest
Liske hello and welcome to the esocast in this episode we'll get the latest

news from Alma the Atacama Large millimeter/submillimeter Array as it
news from Alma the Atacama Large millimeter/submillimeter Array as it

begins its first science observations and will reveal the first public image
begins its first science observations and will reveal the first public image

from Alma a dramatic view of galaxies that are undergoing a cosmic collision
from Alma a dramatic view of galaxies that are undergoing a cosmic collision

we'll find out how astronomers around the world have been eagerly waiting to
we'll find out how astronomers around the world have been eagerly waiting to

get their hands on this revolutionary telescope and discover why this is only
get their hands on this revolutionary telescope and discover why this is only

the beginning for the observatory
the beginning for the observatory

so far only around a third of our moves 66 antennas have been installed at the
so far only around a third of our moves 66 antennas have been installed at the

observatory site on the Chajnantor plateau 5,000 metres up in the Chilean
observatory site on the Chajnantor plateau 5,000 metres up in the Chilean

Andes Mountains and yet even before it's completed Alma is already the most
Andes Mountains and yet even before it's completed Alma is already the most

powerful telescope of its kind Alma observes the universe in light with
powerful telescope of its kind Alma observes the universe in light with

millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths roughly 1,000 times longer than visible
millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths roughly 1,000 times longer than visible

light wavelengths using these longer wavelengths allows astronomers to study
light wavelengths using these longer wavelengths allows astronomers to study

extremely cold objects in space which appear dark through normal telescopes in
extremely cold objects in space which appear dark through normal telescopes in

addition there are also very useful for peering inside dense clouds of cosmic
addition there are also very useful for peering inside dense clouds of cosmic

dust and for observing very distant objects in the early universe
dust and for observing very distant objects in the early universe

Alma is radically different from visible light and infrared telescopes as well as
Alma is radically different from visible light and infrared telescopes as well as

looking at these longer wavelengths of light it works in a totally different
looking at these longer wavelengths of light it works in a totally different

way instead of being one big telescope Alma uses an array of antennas spread
way instead of being one big telescope Alma uses an array of antennas spread

out over distances of up to 16 kilometres
out over distances of up to 16 kilometres

the views from each antenna are combined into one image by one of the world's
the views from each antenna are combined into one image by one of the world's

fastest special-purpose supercomputers the Alma correlator which can perform 17
fastest special-purpose supercomputers the Alma correlator which can perform 17

quadrillion operations per second because of this pictures from Alma were
quadrillion operations per second because of this pictures from Alma were

quite unlike more familiar pictures of the cosmos
quite unlike more familiar pictures of the cosmos

the Alma team has been busy testing the observatory's systems over the past
the Alma team has been busy testing the observatory's systems over the past

months in preparation for the first round of scientific observations one
months in preparation for the first round of scientific observations one

outcome of their test is the first image published from Alma this image was made
outcome of their test is the first image published from Alma this image was made

using only 12 antennas fewer than will be used for the first science
using only 12 antennas fewer than will be used for the first science

observations let alone the completed Observatory and spaced much closer
observations let alone the completed Observatory and spaced much closer

together as well both of these factors make the new image just a taster of what
together as well both of these factors make the new image just a taster of what

is to come the antennae galaxies are a pair of colliding galaxies with
is to come the antennae galaxies are a pair of colliding galaxies with

dramatically distorted shapes while visible light shows us the stars in the
dramatically distorted shapes while visible light shows us the stars in the

galaxies Alma's view reveals the clouds of dense cold gas from which new stars
galaxies Alma's view reveals the clouds of dense cold gas from which new stars

form massive concentrations of gas are found not only in the hearts of the two
form massive concentrations of gas are found not only in the hearts of the two

galaxies but also in the chaotic region where they are colliding here the total
galaxies but also in the chaotic region where they are colliding here the total

amount of gas is billions of times the mass of our Sun a rich reservoir of
amount of gas is billions of times the mass of our Sun a rich reservoir of

material for future generations of stars
material for future generations of stars

observations like these will be vital in helping us understand how galaxy
observations like these will be vital in helping us understand how galaxy

collisions can trigger the birth of new stars this is just one example of how
collisions can trigger the birth of new stars this is just one example of how

Alma reveals parts of the universe that cannot be seen with visible light and
Alma reveals parts of the universe that cannot be seen with visible light and

infrared telescopes over the coming year the sharpness speed and quality of its
infrared telescopes over the coming year the sharpness speed and quality of its

observations will increase dramatically as more antennas become available and
observations will increase dramatically as more antennas become available and

the array grows in size but even with only part of the array in operation this
the array grows in size but even with only part of the array in operation this

is already the best submillimetre wavelength image ever made of the
is already the best submillimetre wavelength image ever made of the

antennae galaxies Alma could accept only about a hundred or so projects for this
antennae galaxies Alma could accept only about a hundred or so projects for this

first nine-month round of observations nevertheless over the last few months
first nine-month round of observations nevertheless over the last few months

astronomers from around the world have submitted over 900 applications to use
astronomers from around the world have submitted over 900 applications to use

it a record level of interest the successful projects were chosen based on
it a record level of interest the successful projects were chosen based on

their scientific merit their regional diversity and also their relevance to
their scientific merit their regional diversity and also their relevance to

our most major science goals let's hear from some of the astronomers who are
our most major science goals let's hear from some of the astronomers who are

planning to use Alma and why they're so excited about this new telescope one of
planning to use Alma and why they're so excited about this new telescope one of

the main reasons were building Alma is to study the birth of the solar system
the main reasons were building Alma is to study the birth of the solar system

in essence and the solar system was formed 4 and 1/2 billion years ago and
in essence and the solar system was formed 4 and 1/2 billion years ago and

we'd like to understand how other solar systems have come into being now we've
we'd like to understand how other solar systems have come into being now we've

got the scale or the sensitivity and the resolution to detail studies of their
got the scale or the sensitivity and the resolution to detail studies of their

systems like ours on forming a nearby in our galaxy I look at molecular clouds in
systems like ours on forming a nearby in our galaxy I look at molecular clouds in

nearby galaxies molecular clouds are where stars form the clouds are made up
nearby galaxies molecular clouds are where stars form the clouds are made up

of very cold gas and studying the physical conditions in these clouds
of very cold gas and studying the physical conditions in these clouds

helps us to understand the star formation process currently we can study
helps us to understand the star formation process currently we can study

molecular clouds only for very nearby galaxies out to about 30 million light
molecular clouds only for very nearby galaxies out to about 30 million light

years with armor we'll be able to study individual clouds and galaxies much much
years with armor we'll be able to study individual clouds and galaxies much much

further out Alma is going to be a very important
further out Alma is going to be a very important

instrument teaches about the physics that go on around the black hole of the
instrument teaches about the physics that go on around the black hole of the

center of the Milky Way galaxy this is because all the intervening dust can
center of the Milky Way galaxy this is because all the intervening dust can

obscure some of the shorter wavelength observations so the very high angular
obscure some of the shorter wavelength observations so the very high angular

resolutions and into the submillimetre band that the Alma telescope will be
resolutions and into the submillimetre band that the Alma telescope will be

able to observe at will be able to look at the fine scale structural detail
able to observe at will be able to look at the fine scale structural detail

around black hole well we know of some galaxies that exist in the faraway
around black hole well we know of some galaxies that exist in the faraway

universe that are only seen in certain wavelengths so for example I we know
universe that are only seen in certain wavelengths so for example I we know

about radio galaxies that are not observed in any other wavelength even
about radio galaxies that are not observed in any other wavelength even

with the most powerful telescopes and we have been waiting for all of them to
with the most powerful telescopes and we have been waiting for all of them to

give us the possibility to understand what these galaxies are and what what is
give us the possibility to understand what these galaxies are and what what is

happening in them
happening in them

building work by almost partner organizations from Europe North America
building work by almost partner organizations from Europe North America

and East Asia will continue during the first science observations by 2013 the
and East Asia will continue during the first science observations by 2013 the

observatory will be complete and will feature 66 antennas spread out over
observatory will be complete and will feature 66 antennas spread out over

distances of up to 16 kilometres by unfolding its enormous observational
distances of up to 16 kilometres by unfolding its enormous observational

potential Alma will revolutionize many areas of astronomy and will provide us
potential Alma will revolutionize many areas of astronomy and will provide us

with profound insights into the universe this is dr j signing off for the esocast
with profound insights into the universe this is dr j signing off for the esocast

join us again next time for another cosmic adventure
join us again next time for another cosmic adventure

you
you

you
you

I guess you're about the only person around it doesn't have to be recovery to
I guess you're about the only person around it doesn't have to be recovery to

the food we eat wait a minute they're got the flag up now you can see the Sun
the food we eat wait a minute they're got the flag up now you can see the Sun

in the fridge but all over they come down educating a TV picture not having
in the fridge but all over they come down educating a TV picture not having

eat veal yes we are getting a TV picture with an alkene at once all cramped oh
eat veal yes we are getting a TV picture with an alkene at once all cramped oh

man on diet we program
man on diet we program