High in the Atacama Desert, under one of the clearest skies in the world, ALMA began its mission 12 years ago to explore the far reaches of the universe. Since then, this ambitious scientific project has transformed our understanding of the cosmos, uncovering secrets ranging from the first moments of the universe to the processes that form new stars and planets.
At more than 5,000 meters above sea level, where the air is as thin as the limits of the known, ALMA has been a beacon of discovery. Its history is woven with unforgettable moments that have marked milestones in modern astronomy, resulting from international collaboration and the efforts of scientists, engineers, and support staff.
- 1999: Memorandum of Understanding signed between the United States and Europe for the design and development of the project.
- 2003: A final agreement is reached between North America and Europe, with funding shared between the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and North American partners.
- 2004: Japan joined the project, contributing new extensions that expanded ALMA’s capabilities.
- 2007: The first antenna arrives in Chile, marking the beginning of the construction phase at the site.
- 2009: The first interferometry with two antennas is performed at the Operations Support Facility (OSF), demonstrating the project’s technical viability.
- 2011: Initial scientific observations begin, allowing the astronomical community to access preliminary ALMA data.
- 2013: On March 13, ALMA is officially inaugurated, consolidating itself as one of the most advanced infrastructures for observing the universe at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths.
- 2014: The installation of the 66 antennas is completed, bringing the observatory to full operations.
- 2018: ALMA celebrates the publication of its 1000th scientific paper, reflecting its impact on the global astronomical community.
Credit: Pablo Carrillo – ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)
In these 12 years, ALMA has expanded our scientific frontiers and inspired generations of researchers and lovers of the cosmos.
To celebrate this anniversary, we invite you to visit our photo gallery to enjoy images of our celebration.
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