Large Latin American Millimeter Array, Radio telescope in Puna de Atacama, Argentina
The Large Latin American Millimeter Array is a radio telescope with a 12-meter antenna designed to observe the sky at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. This instrument captures faint signals from distant objects in space and collects precise astronomical data about their properties.
The project began in 2007 during a scientific meeting in Venezuela and later became formalized through agreements between Argentina and Brazil in 2014. This partnership between nations allowed the development and operation of this modern observing instrument for Latin American astronomy.
The facility name honors a South American animal that has lived in these high mountains for thousands of years, reflecting the local environment where the telescope sits.
The telescope sits at roughly 4,820 meters (15,800 feet) elevation near San Antonio de los Cobres, where thin, dry air creates ideal conditions for observing the sky. This remote mountain location reduces interference from human activity and light pollution that would otherwise affect measurements.
The telescope connects with other instruments around the world through a technique called Very Long Baseline Interferometry, allowing observations that no single instrument could achieve alone. By linking together globally, these tools create virtual telescopes with enormous effective diameters.
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