Lmst

Of course all of this builds on the initial success from the original ALMA long-baseline campaing that looked at HL Tau and found its protoplanetary disk in all its glory…

https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/revolutionary-alma-image-reveals-planetary-genesis/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #ProtoplanetaryDisks #PlanetFormation #YoungStars #YoungSolarSystems #HLTau

The first ALMA image of the HL Tauri protoplanetary disk. The image color palette orange and red, with more emission in brighter colors. Grooves can be seen in the disks where protoplanets have been eating away at the material.

Using data from ALMA and advanced simulations, a research team led by Santiago Orcajo from the Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata in Argentina (CONICET and Universidad Nacional de La Plata) has presented a new model that traces the evolution of protoplanetary disks through five distinct stages. The results strongly support a planet-driven origin of these substructures and offer new insights into how planets interact with the disks in which they form.

Stage I: Very young disks with shallow or no obvious substructures, corresponding to an epoch in which protoplanets are not massive enough to carve noticeable gaps in the disks.

Stage II: Disks with relatively narrow, but clear gaps and rings, indicating the growth of protoplanets

Stage III: A rapid widening of the gaps due to the sudden growth in the mass of some planets when they acquire their gaseous envelopes. This stage includes the rapid accumulation of dust at the outer edges of the gaps (the inner rims of the outer disks) due to the strong “pressure bumps” caused by the giant planets that recently formed, which stops the inward drift of dust.

Stage IV: Dust filtration at the edges of the cavities, resulting in dust-depleted inner disks. The millimeter dust from the outer disks efficiently drifts in and accumulates at the edges of the gaps.

Stage V: Eventually, the dusty inner disks drain completely onto the stars, and the outer disks become narrow rings (or collections of narrow rings).

More info: https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/alma-inspires-new-models-for-the-evolution-of-planet-forming-disks/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #ProtoplanetaryDisks #PlanetFormation #YoungStars #YoungSolarSystems

This image shows the 15 brightest protoplanetary disks (ordered in 5 columns and 3 rows) in Ophiuchus (as observed by the ODISEA project and DSHARP), in which one can observe the presence of rings and grooves of different sizes that indicate the presence of bodies in formation. Credit: Orcajo, S. et al. (2025)

An international collaboration called exoALMA is using our telescopes to s peer through the dusty disks where planets are born. Thanks to their newly developed advanced imaging techniques, exoALMA has revealed the most sharp images of young solar systems, as never seen before. This research project has just published 17 papers, with several more coming on the several months.

The exoALMA collaboration is using ALMA to conduct a comprehensive planet hunting campaign in the sub-mm regime. They claim to be the first to focus on still-forming planets, instead of fully formed ones.

Unlike traditional planet-hunting methods that look for a young planet's direct light, exoALMA looks for the effects planets have on their surroundings. This approach potentially allows to detect much younger planets than ever before. "It's like trying to spot a fish by looking for ripples in a pond, rather than [the] fish itself.”

More information on the link below:

https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/exoalma-survey-reveals-incredible-images-of-structures-in-protoplanetary-disks/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #exoALMA #ExoPlanets #YoungStars #StarFormation #PlanetFormation #YoungPlanets

Flaming dish
#backlight #dish #ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #PanamericanGames #PanamericanGames2023

One of the flame cauldrons for the 2023 Panamerican Games in Santiago sitting at the entrance of the ESO and ALMA offices, backlit by the sun. The secondary support arms converge on the setting sun.

EHT Reveals New Insights of Jets from Supermassive Black Holes. ALMA is a big part of EHT, and in this case provided the most accurate calibration for the observations, which was used later for the longer baselines between EHT telescopes.

ps. IAA-CSIC plays a strong role in EHT and this news, and is where I got my Ph.D., so this is doubly important for me.

https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/audiences/eht-reveals-new-insights-of-jets-from-supermassive-black-holes/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #EHT #EventHorizonTelescope #IAACSIC #IAA #CSIC #InstitutoAstrofísicaAndalucía #InstitutoAstrofisicaAndalucia #CentroSuperiorInvestigacionesCientíficas #CentroSuperiorInvestigacionesCientificas

Schematic view of an active galactic nucleus (AGN). The relativistic jet is launched from the black hole and its accretion disk in a parabolic geometry, later transitioning to a conical appearance. Credit: J. Röder/M. Wielgus.

Artist’s impression of an active galactic nucleus. Credit: Juan Carlos Algaba.

BTW, did I mention ALMA is now officially 12 years old? On March 13th, 2013, ALMA was famously commanded by then President Sebastián Piñera to point to the galactic center!

Since then, ALMA has been delivering stunning science year after year, and during Cycle 10 we managed to provide more than 4250 hours of quality data to our Principal Investigators, our highest number ever!

More on our 12 year anniversary at https://alma.loadingediciones.cl/dev/12-years-alma/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #Anniversary #12years

A picture of a celebratory cake with white frosting on a small table, with 12 ALMA-like antennas on top, together with 12 stars, and ALMA and 12 written in bold blue letters.

Behind, a larger table has a round cloth with a white ALMA-like antenna printed on it, surrounded by white, light blue, and dark blue balloons with stars. That cloth is surrounded by additional things to eat, like plates of fruit, parfaits, jellies, and other delicacies.

ALMA Discovers “Space Tornadoes” Around the Milky Way’s Core!

Although the galaxy’s central molecular zone (CMZ) has long been known to be filled with swirling dust and gas molecules cycling through formation and destruction, the mechanism that drives this process has remained elusive. Molecules serve as tracers for various processes in molecular clouds, with silicon monoxide (SiO) particularly useful in detecting the presence of shock waves.

Using ALMA’s high resolution and sensitivity to map distinct spectral lines within the molecular clouds at the center of the Milky Way, the team led by Kai Yang (Shanghai Jiao Tong University) has delineated a new type of long, narrow filamentary structure at a significantly finer scale. The dynamic interaction between this turbulent environment and the slim filaments produced as shocks ripple through provides a more complete view of the cyclical processes within the CMZ.

Yang’s team reports it remains unknown how these slim filaments initially arise, but shock processes emerge as a likely explanation.

More info at https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/alma-discovers-space-tornadoes-around-the-milky-ways-core/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #MilkyWay #CMZ #CentralMolecularZone #SgrA* #GalacticCenter

This image corresponds to Figure 1 in the paper.

The image is divided into multiple panels labeled (a) through (g):
Panel (a) shows the now classical large-scale MeerKAT radio observation at 1.28 GHz of the galactic center, rotated to better align with other panels. The galactic center sureoundings appear as a cloudy, filamentary structures with brighter regions and darker spots. Sgr A* (our galaxy’s black hole) is labeled with a star symbol.

Two red boxes highlight regions with different velocity components (50 km s⁻¹ and 20 km s⁻¹).

Panels (b) and (c) are zoomed-in views of these velocity components showing SiO 5-4 transition observations from ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) at low resolution. These panels show filament-like structures. Panel (b) shows the 50 km s⁻¹ component, while panel, with an outline indicating where the ALMA observation was made. Panel (c) shows the 20 km s⁻¹ component with three regions labeled A, B, and C indicating additional ALMA observations.

Panel (d) corresponds to the ALMA observation outlined in panel (b). Panels (e) to (g) corresponds to regions A to C in panel (c). Those panels show many filaments with coherent speeds, sometimes perpendicular to other flows.

We're hiring again! Now we're looking for an Science Archive Content Manager (aka SACM). This person will be a mamber of the Data Management Group, and will be integral on creating useful science data from the raw data generated by the observatory. And in the WSU era, they will be providing expertise on how to best reduce the data.

For that, we're looking for someone with a Master's degree in astronomy with minimum three years of relevant working experience. A PhD degree will be considered an asset.

The successful candidate must have experience in data processing of astronomical data, with a good command of Unix/Linux. If they have experience in sub-mm/radio interferometric and/or single-dish data reduction, and Python programming skills, that will be an asset

Of course, she or he must be fluent in English, with fluency in Spanish being an asset.

Does that look like you, or someone you know? Please help us and apply, or forward this vacancy!

https://www.comeet.com/jobs/almaobservatory/F5.001/science-archive-content--manager--grade-15/6B.354

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #atacamaLargeMillimeterArray #SACM #ScienceArchiveContentManager #Jobs #Vacancies #Fedihire

The text reads:

ALMA Observatory is looking for a new
Science Archive Content Manager (SACM)
Internal & external ALMA JAO opportunity
The successful candidate will be part of the Data Management Group (DMG) within the Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO). She/he will join a very active team of astronomers (Science Archive Content Managers - SACMs).
Some of the major responsibilities will be related to:
- QA of the science data products produced by the pipeline.
- Manual data reduction, depending on level of expertise and first level of investigation on issues (hardware or software).
- Contribution to defining specifications and testing of new pipeline heuristics, as well as define, update or improve procedures.

Minimum requirements:
- Master's degree in astronomy with minimum three years of relevant working experience. PHD degree will be an asset.
- Experience in data processing of astronomical data. Good command of Unix/Linux.
- Experience in sub-mm/radio interferometric and/or single-dish data reduction, and Python programming skills will be an asset
- Fluent in English is a must. Fluent in Spanish is an asset.

Galaxy clusters are the largest structures in the universe. Protoclusters like SPT2349-56 offer a unique window into this process, allowing astronomers to observe galaxies as they come together in a dense environment.

By comparing ALMA's high-resolution configuration observations with lower-resolution data from ALMA's Compact Array (ACA), and APEX, the team found a significant amount of molecular gas "invisible" in the higher-resolution ALMA images. The ACA detected 75% more CO than the sum of individual sources detected in higher-resolution ALMA data.

This missing gas isn't just a few faint, undetected galaxies. Instead, it appears to be a diffuse reservoir of gas spread throughout the protocluster.

This hidden gas reservoir could be the key to understanding the intense star formation activity observed in SPT2349-56. The presence of so much extra gas extends the star formation fuel, meaning the overall depletion timescale will exceed 400 million years.

SPT2349-56 is an extreme system, producing stars 10.000 times faster than our Milky Way, and these observations have pushed scientists' understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. No simulation or galaxy formation model had previously predicted this overdensity of gas. These findings also suggest that high-resolution ALMA observations, while excellent for studying individual galaxies, may miss a significant gas component in these early clusters. The missing gas may reside in the circum-galactic medium (CGM) or the pre-heated proto-intracluster medium (proto-ICM).

More information at https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/alma-founds-hidden-cosmic-fuel/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #GalaxyClusters #StarFormation

Illustration of the extended molecular gas (red) surrounding the galaxies (blue) in the protocluster core SPT2349-56.

In blue,

Credit: MPIfR/N.Sulzenauer

Youtube video from @esoastronomy on the Wideeband Sensitivity Upgrade… It is 6 months old, but from the point of view of what we will be attempting is quite apropos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYDD9b252BU

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #WidebandSensitivityUpgrade #WSU

I’m happy to share that we’re looking for what we call a Communities Liaison: the person that will support the ongoing relationship of the observatory with the local communities in the San Pedro/Toconao area, including their leaders and elders.

Does it sound like something you can do? Please apply online https://www.comeet.com/jobs/almaobservatory/F5.001/communities-liaison--part-time-grade-14/89.15E

Or please share it with other people who might find it a good fit for them!

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #atacamaLargeMillimeterArray #Liaison #LocalCommunities #FediHire #Jobs #JobVacancies

A promotional image for a part-time Communities Liaison position at the ALMA Observatory. The image features two large radio telescopes in a desert landscape under a bright blue sky. Text overlays the image, advertising the open position and outlining the responsibilities and minimum requirements. The text reads:

ALMA Observatory is looking for a new Communities Liaison- part time
External ALMA JAO opportunity
The Communities Liaison position will provide ongoing support to the relationship of the observatory with the local communities in the area near the ALMA site.

Some of the major responsibilities will be related to:
- Establish trust-based, positive relationships between ALMA and local community stakeholders in the ll Region, with a special focus on the Likan Antai indigenous communities.
- Act as the primary liaison between ALMA and local community representatives, including leaders, elders, and local organizations.

Minimum requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in law or social science.
- 5 years of experience working in community development, Indigenous affairs, mediation/conflict resolution, or similar.
- English level minimum B2 (intermediate-advanced).

This yearly shutdown for ALMA is special: during this shutdown, the first equipment required for the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade will be connected: the electrical interfaces for the OSF Correlator Room, which will be the home for the new Advanced Technology ALMA Correlator (ATAC), the new Total Power GPU Spectrometer (TPGS), parts of the Data Transmission Subsystem, and even from the computing side of things!

https://alma.loadingediciones.cl/dev/shutdown-2025/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #WSU #WidebandSensitivityUpgrade #ATAC #AdvancedTechnologyALMACorrelator #TPGS #TotalPowerGPUSpectrometer #ALMAShutdown2025

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #SCO #SantiagoCentralOffice #windows #reflections #shadows #patterns #moire #hatched #Vitacura #Chile

Black and white image of a window of the ALMA building in the Vitacura campus in Santiago (Metropolitan Region, Chile). The window is surrounded by a pattern of light and shadows, with the light coming from the top right side. The window is next to a corner, and another window reflects the lights and shadows, so both in the corner and the bottom of the windows a hatched pattern appears.

Si te interesa la ingenería de sistemas y/o la astronomía, puede que te interese asistir al webinar que voy a dar en unos 5 minutos sobre desafíos de ingeniería de sistemas por el Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (Actualización de Sensibilidad de Banda Ancha).

Zoom: https://incose-org.zoom.us/j/85248093758?pwd=KbAEckd3I9Hi95omkAcV62TaBcvFO0.1

Detalles: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7284692059783868416/attendees/

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #IngenieríaDeSistemas #SystemEngineering #INCOSE #INCOSELatAm #IngenieriaDeSistemas #IngenieriaSistemas #astronomía #astronomy #radioastronomy #WSU #WidebandSensitivityUpgrade

Happy new year from ALMA!
#ALMA #HappyNewYear #Happy2025 #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray

We're hiring again! In this case, we are looking for another System Engineer to help both with our current operational system, and with tasks related to our Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU).

Are you a system engineer, or think like one and have the right training and/or experience? Please consider joining us!

In that case, please apply at https://www.comeet.com/jobs/almaobservatory/F5.001/systems-engineer--grade-15/FC.E4E

If you don't identify as our candidate, please share this with others!

#ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #SystemEngineering #SystemsEngineering #SystemEngineer #SystemsEngineer #FediHire #Jobs #Vacancies

Image of a job posting for the ALMA Observatory. The posting is for a Systems Engineer.

The top half features a panoramic photo of the ALMA Observatory's radio telescopes in a high-altitude desert landscape, with slightly cloudy light blue sky. The top is separated from the bottom by a turquoise swirl.

The bottom half contains the job description:

ALMA Observatory is looking for a new
Systems Engineer- Grade 15
(Internal & External ALMA JAO opportunity)

The Systems Engineer will support processes related to problem reporting and investigation, including root cause analysis, leading Material Review Board (MRB) processes, and carrying out related technical analysis, among other activities.

Some of the major responsibilities will be related to:
- Support the System Engineering processes for ALMA development projects, including gate reviews.
- Lead and follow up on Material Review Boards (MRBs) to resolve non-conformances.
- Guide sub-projects and/or developments, perform on-demand analysis and prepare summary reports.
- Contribute to the definition, verification and validation of technical requirements.

Minimum requirements:
- A university degree in engineering or equivalent, preferably in the fields of software, electronics, mechanics or mechatronics.
- At least 3 years of related working experience in Systems Engineering.
- English: advanced level, reading, and writing. Spanish: intermediate to advanced level or a willingness to learn.

Are you an IT specialist that would like to become a support engineer for the ALMA Observatory? You might want to consider this ALMA Front Line Support Engineer vacancy!

If you're interested, please apply at https://www.comeet.com/jobs/almaobservatory/F5.001/front-line-software-support-engineer--grade-13/9A.E41, and you can also see the job particulars in the alt-text of the accompanying image.

Please, share it for others that might be interested!

#AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #atacamalargemillimeterarray #ALMA #Vacancies #IT #SupportEngineer #FrontLineSupportEngineer

Update: this toot originally talked about a *Font* Line Support engineer, and hilarity ensued… https://mstdn.social/@juliewebgirl/113640433437238428

Picture of an American (in the foreground) and an European 12-m (a bit further away) ALMA antennas pointing almost to the zenith at the Chajnantor plateau with blue, slightly cloudy sky, and some snow in the mountains. A blueish swirl separates the image from the text.

The job vacancy text reads:

ALMA Observatory is looking for a new
Front-Line Software Support Engineer
Internal & external ALMA JAO opportunity

The Front-Line Software Support Engineer will join the Software Group and his/her main purpose will be to support activities for maintaining the observatory operations.
Some of the major responsibilities will be related to:
- Provide front-end support to observatory operations through the recovery of computing systems.
- Investigation and Reporting of computing issues detected during operations.
- Installation and configuration of the software associated to the core processes of the observatory.

Minimum requirements:
- Degree in computing, software or electronics engineering, computer sciences, physics or equivalent. No previous working experience is required.
- Knowledge in Linux environment is mandatory.
- Intermediate-advanced English level (oral and written).

At the #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray (ALMA) we're worried about the impact of our activities in climate change, and we're looking at green energy options for ALMA…

Sean Dougherty, our ALMA Director, shared the progress so far in what we call “Hablemos de ALMA” (Let's speak about ALMA) series of seminars.

https://alma.loadingediciones.cl/dev/news/green-energy/

We're looking for a part time Public Relations Officer! If you fit that profile, or know someone that does it, please pass them this opportunity!

The application link is https://www.comeet.com/jobs/almaobservatory/F5.001/public-relations-officer-part-time--grade-13/6C.C4B

#FediHire #Jobs #Vacancy #ALMA #AtacamaLargeMillimeterSubmillimeterArray #AtacamaLargeMillimeterArray #PublicRelations #PR