Snow visits the ALMA Site

At 5000 metres above sea level, on the Chajnantor plateau, one of the giant ALMA antenna transporters contemplates an unexpected sight — a delicate dusting of snow. Although snow is a very rare event at this extremely arid site it is occasionally a consequence of the so called “Altiplanic winter”. This image was taken on 30 April 2010. The ALMA transporters are two giant custom-built vehicles, specially designed to move the antennas across the Chajnantor plateau, allowing different configurations of the array. Since late 2009, there have been three antennas at 5000 metres.

Credit:

ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)

About the Image

Id:alma_with_snow_2127
Type:Photographic
Release date:6 May 2010, 10:27
Size:2592 x 1944 px

About the Object

Name:Chajnantor
Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory
Category:ALMA

Image Formats

Large JPEG
1.4 MB
Screensize JPEG
276.1 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
313.4 KB
1280x1024
489.4 KB
1600x1200
681.7 KB
1920x1200
730.8 KB
2048x1536
1.0 MB