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Logistics: the cog that keeps ALMA moving
At ALMA, every observation depends on the precise work of the Logistics Department. Comprised of Claudia Johnson, ALMA Logistics Lead, and her colleague Ana Salinas, ALMA Logistics Assistant, both with more than 15 years at the Observatory, this team ensures the movement, distribution, and supply of the materials that enable science to continue. Their work includes coordinating local and...
All Hands 2025: Record numbers and an expanding future
On Thursday, September 4, 140 colleagues connected to a new All-Hands meeting. The meeting highlighted the record number of hours observed in Cycle 11, the demand for Cycle 12, and the progress of the ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU), which will quadruple ALMA’s sensitivity. The session was led by Director Sean Dougherty and featured presentations by Iván López, Health,...
Astronomy and territory: the role of Community Relations at ALMA
At ALMA, working with neighboring communities is a key part of our presence in Chile. Beyond science and observing the universe, there is a real and ongoing commitment to local development, particularly in the Antofagasta Region, where our closest communities — San Pedro de Atacama and Toconao — are located. For over a decade, we have been working on...
ALMA moves forward with its scientific upgrade: progress on the WSU project
The Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU) program is one of ALMA's strategic pillars for the 2030s and will mark a turning point in its contribution to global science. This initiative will transform the way we observe the universe by increasing the bandwidth and sensitivity of the observing system. This will allow more and fainter data to be collected in less...
Important Lessons from the Snowfall at the AOS and the OSF
During the last week of June, ALMA experienced extraordinary weather conditions: heavy snowfall covered the Array Operation Site (AOS), and even some snow covered the Operation Support Facility (OSF). An event like this one, caused by a cold front that generated winds of up to 100 km/h, had not been seen on this scale for more than 10 years....