Space Photo of the Day: Radio Dish in Motion (Aug 25, 2025)

Speedy Summary

• The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) uses radio dishes too study cosmic structures at radio wavelengths.
• ALMA’s radio dishes weigh up to 100 tons and are moved using giant transporters weighing 135 tons each.
• These transporters, named Otto and Lore, are capable of millimetric precision in positioning antennas and were custom-built for smooth operation with brakes, accelerators, and oxygen tanks due to desert altitude conditions.
• Located on the Chajnantor plateau in northern Atacama desert at altitudes of up to 16,400 feet (5,000 meters),ALMA’s operations benefit astronomers globally by studying phenomena like protoplanetary disks,molecular clouds,and star-forming regions.
• its ability to rearrange the dish array makes ALMA a cutting-edge observatory for millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength observations.

Image caption: A worker remotely navigates a large transporter holding an ALMA radio dish through the Atacama desert (Image Credit: Y. Villalón ALMA Photo-Ambassador).

Indian Opinion Analysis

The advancements at ALMA demonstrate the operational expertise required in high-altitude environments for astronomical research that pushes boundaries globally. India’s growing ambitions in space exploration-including projects under ISRO-could potentially integrate lessons from the precision engineering employed by facilities like ALMA when designing domestic observatories or international collaborations aimed at studying distant cosmic phenomena.

Such technological investments not only underpin space science but also foster reach into deeper domains of quantum physics and astrophysics where global cooperation becomes crucial. India may stand to benefit from partnering with world-class hubs like ALMA while simultaneously advancing its indigenous observatory systems tailored for regional needs such as monsoon climate challenges affecting observational clarity.

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