Although scientific observations are temporarily suspended during February, ALMA does not stop. Activities continue 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, during a dedicated period for maintenance, inspections, and tests that ensure the observatory continues operating safely, reliably, and efficiently for the rest of the year. “We prefer not to use the word ‘shutdown’. February is a month in...
In January 2026, ALMA successfully conducted the first observations for a new VLBI monitoring project, marking the start of an ambitious effort that will continue through March–May this year. Unlike previous campaigns, which focused on short observing windows, this project will monitor the same target over weeks and months, a first for VLBI observations at ALMA. What makes this...
At ALMA, we do groundbreaking science every day, but its true value is multiplied when we share it. That's why, as part of Astronomy Day in Chile, we will once again open our doors to the community with a new edition of ALMA Open House 2026 on Friday, March 20, at our offices in Santiago, in collaboration with ESO,...
On Sunday, January 18, ALMA welcomed a delegation from Congreso Futuro, Chile’s flagship science and ideas festival. The visit connected the public conversations held in Santiago with the frontier of astronomical research on the Chajnantor Plateau, bringing together science, society, and long-term thinking. Among the visitors were Guido Girardi, founder of Congreso Futuro, and Michael Garret, Professor at the...
In the world's driest desert, water is a critical resource. At ALMA, every drop has a long and carefully planned journey, from its source to its reuse. Behind this process is the team led by Donald Tait, Contracts and Facilities Group (CFG) Manager, along with shift supervisors Pablo Pistoia and Alfredo Krain, who ensure that the supply works day...
In an environment as dynamic as ALMA, where multiple critical activities occur in parallel, the Planning & Coordination area plays a key role in ensuring that everything runs safely, smoothly, and in line with the observatory's priorities. The team, made up of Stefan Gairing and Octavio Hernández, both Planner/Coordinator of Operation and Maintenance, acts as a meeting point between...