Northern Extended Millimeter Array, Radio interferometer on Plateau de Bure, France
The facility consists of twelve movable antennas, each 15 meters across, positioned on a high plateau in the Alps at about 2500 meters elevation. The antennas sit on rails and can be rearranged to form different observation setups.
The observatory started in the 1980s with a small number of antennas and expanded gradually over the following decades. The final antenna of the original plan was installed in 2022, completing the full intended design.
Scientists from multiple European nations work together at this facility to investigate the universe and share their discoveries. The international nature of the research is visible in how teams from different countries coordinate their observations and analysis work.
The site sits at high altitude in the mountains, so visitors should prepare for thin air and changing weather conditions. Sturdy footwear is advisable since the paths to the antennas can be steep and uneven.
The antenna signals are combined to create images as detailed as those from a giant virtual telescope with extraordinary magnification. This technique reveals structures in space that would otherwise remain invisible.
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