The world's largest radio telescope

The world's largest radio telescope

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March 13 marked the inauguration of the world's most powerful observatory - a field of antennas high in Chile's Atacama desert that make up the ALMA telescope.

ALMA, the world's largest radio telescope, has been functioning at limited capacity since 2011. But now 50 of the antennas, which can be arranged over a 10-kilometre radius to maximise their efficiency, will finally be working together.

. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

The $1.3 billion ALMA observatory promises to probe deeper into space than any other telescope and will allow astronomers to study wavelengths invisible to the human eye, according to ALMA officials.

When functioning at full capacity, the telescope will produce images up to ten times sharper than NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. It will study light from the coldest and darkest corners of the universe, where galaxies are formed and stars are born.

The high altitude and clear, cloudless skies of the Atacama desert provide the ideal conditions for observation.

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The vast parabolic antennas of the ALMA project will work together as a single giant telescope.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

The vast parabolic antennas of the ALMA project will work together as a single giant telescope.

They will allow scientists to study the universe, molecular gas, the dust of stars, galaxies and planetary systems.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

They will allow scientists to study the universe, molecular gas, the dust of stars, galaxies and planetary systems.

ALMA will eventually have 66 antennas, but officials aren't sure when the whole project will be complete.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

ALMA will eventually have 66 antennas, but officials aren't sure when the whole project will be complete.

The observatory will allow astronomers to study wavelengths invisible to the human eye.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

The observatory will allow astronomers to study wavelengths invisible to the human eye.

The antennas at ALMA stand some 5,000 meters above sea level.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

The antennas at ALMA stand some 5,000 meters above sea level.

The receivers are used to detect radiation from space, which is converted into an electrical signal to make it measurable so that it can be studied.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

The receivers are used to detect radiation from space, which is converted into an electrical signal to make it measurable so that it can be studied.

Workers prepare one of the structures the day before the official inauguration.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

Workers prepare one of the structures the day before the official inauguration.

A parabolic antenna dish points to the sky.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

A parabolic antenna dish points to the sky.

A man looks out across the desert at the antennas.
. CALAMA, United Kingdom. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

A man looks out across the desert at the antennas.

They stand clustered together in the barren landscape.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

They stand clustered together in the barren landscape.

A special vehicle prepares to load an antenna.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

A special vehicle prepares to load an antenna.

A worker is reflected on the surface of a machine that works together with the antennas at the observatory.
. CALAMA, Chile. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

A worker is reflected on the surface of a machine that works together with the antennas at the observatory.