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$21 Million NSF Award Will Bring ngVLA Design to Life

$21 Million NSF Award Will Bring ngVLA Design to Life

The largest astronomical array in North America is one step closer to becoming a reality. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is pleased to announce that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a 3-year, $21 million grant to Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) to further the design of the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA). Said Tony Beasley, Director of NRAO, “Despite challenging economic times, this award demonstrates a strong commitment from the research community and the NSF to create astronomy’s next great instrument, and continue U.S. radio astronomy leadership. NRAO is committed to begin construction of the ngVLA later this decade.”

Late this summer, the NSF formally entered the ngVLA project into the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) design process at the Conceptual Design Phase. The NSF-led Conceptual Design Review (CDR) is expected next Spring and will be supported by this most recent award.  While this does not yet represent a commitment to construct the telescope, the review signals the project’s strong scientific and technical promise and growing project readiness. The three MREFC reviews (Conceptual, Preliminary, and Final) will provide NSF with the critical information needed to consider adding ngVLA construction to a budget request later this decade.

The concept for the ngVLA was created in 2016, and the telescope was presented to the ASTRO2020 Decadal Survey in 2019. Delivery of the ngVLA prototype antenna to the VLA site is expected in summer 2024.

Learn more about the ngVLA https://ngvla.nrao.edu/

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under a cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

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Largest Telescope Array in North America Under Development by NRAO With Support from UNM

Largest Telescope Array in North America Under Development by NRAO With Support from UNM

Albuquerque, NM, Thursday, September 7, 2023 — The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)/Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), and the University of New Mexico (UNM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore collaborations in support of future U.S. radio astronomy initiatives.

The MOU outlines the shared interests of AUI/NRAO and UNM in increasing professional collaborations amongst scientific and engineering staff through the sharing of facilities and computing resources. The joint effort will actively identify future collaborations related to the next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA).

“Spread across the New Mexico landscape is one of the most iconic and consequential scientific instruments of the world, the Very Large Array.  UNM is excited to be working with NRAO on the next generation of this facility, which will probe the universe and reveal new insights about the evolution of galaxies and the formation of terrestrial planets. This work will help to keep our state and our University at the forefront of human understanding of the Universe in which we live,” said James Holloway, UNM provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

The ngVLA, currently in its design phase thanks to an award from the National Science Foundation, will improve upon the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the VLBA by more than an order of magnitude. “A collaboration with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a fundamental opportunity for our researchers to innovate and design together critical infrastructure needs that will impact people for generations to come. UNM has a notable track record when it comes to the advancement of space research and science and the involvement of our community to share in our newest innovations and discoveries,” said Ellen Fisher, vice president for research at UNM. 

The Astro2020 Decadal Survey Report prioritized the ngVLA as a major ground-based facility whose construction should begin this decade. Once approved, construction on the ngVLA could begin as soon as 2026, with projected early scientific observations starting in 2029 and full scientific operations by 2035. Building on the legacy of the VLA, VLBA, and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), the ngVLA will become the next U.S. flagship radio telescope and ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in radio astronomy. “This partnership with NRAO to support the next generation Very Large Array could bring more than 200 of the world’s best radio astronomers and engineers to the UNM campus, resulting in unparalleled education and training opportunities for UNM’s astronomy students and hundreds of new, high-paying jobs in New Mexico,” said Chris Lippitt, associate dean for research at the UNM College of Arts & Sciences.

Through this partnership, NRAO and UNM will explore the potential of establishing the UNM College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Physics & Astronomy as a host site for the ngVLA Data Processing and Science Operations Center. This site will foster close collaboration  between  NRAO and UNM researchers, and  will also provide UNM students the opportunity to work closely with and learn from the world-class radio astronomers and engineers at AUI/ NRAO.  “This memorandum of understanding between NRAO and UNM strengthens our existing partnership, is the foundation for significant cooperative work on the ngVLA, and will help ensure that the state of New Mexico remains at the center of the radio astronomy world,” said Eric Murphy, the Project Scientist for ngVLA. “We look forward to an exciting future ahead with UNM.”

This partnership is directly aligned with UNM’s 2040 goal to “Advance New Mexico” by being an economic driver for the state of New Mexico, but will also advance future leaders in radio astronomy, data science, high performance computing, and engineering. “With National Science Foundation support and Associated Universities, Inc. oversight, NRAO telescopes have put New Mexico at the heart of international radio astronomy,” said Tony Beasley, Director of NRAO. “Working with UNM gives us an even more solid foundation to create the next great instrument for the scientific community.” 

The MOU also explores the potential for collaboration between UNM and AUI/NRAO to support the computational infrastructure needs for the VLBA Back End Retrofit (VBER) project. The VBER project aims to upgrade critical end-of-life electronics and improve capabilities at all 10 VLBA antenna sites.

For more information, please contact:

AUI/NRAO:

Technical Point of Contact: Eric Murphy, ngVLA Project Scientist, NRAO, emurphy@nrao.edu

Administrative Point of Contact: Richard Sakshaug, Contracts and Procurement Manager, rsakshau@nrao.edu

UNM:

Technical Point of Contact: Dr. Christopher D. Lippitt, Associate Dean for Research, UNM College of Arts & Sciences, clippitt@unm.edu

Administrative Point of Contact: Dr. Ellen Fisher, Vice President for Research, University of New Mexico, erfisher21@unm.edu

About NRAO:

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF), operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Furthering NSF’s mission to advance the progress of science, the NRAO enables research into the Universe at radio wavelengths and provides world-class telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise to the scientific community. NRAO’s mission includes a commitment to broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and promoting astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates three research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), which are available for use by scientists from around the globe, regardless of institutional or national affiliation. NRAO welcomes applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. For more information about NRAO, go to National Radio Astronomy Observatory .

About UNM:

The University of New Mexico (UNM) is a public research university in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 1889 as the state’s flagship institution, UNM offers over 200 degree and certificate programs across 15 academic units. As the only academic institution in the state of New Mexico with a Carnegie Classification of Very High Research Activity (R1), UNM plays a critical role in educating the state’s residents and in driving its economy. 

About the College of Arts & Sciences:

The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest academic unit on UNM’s campus, generating approximately $40 million in research funding each year. With over 45 majors and 68 concentrations spanning across 24 departments and schools as well as 26 academic and research programs, the College has established itself as a catalyst for academic and research excellence and innovation at UNM and throughout the state of New Mexico. 

About the Department of Physics & Astronomy:

The UNM Department of Physics & Astronomy at the College of Arts & Sciences generates approximately $11 million in research funding each year. Located in the state-of-the-art Physics & Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science (PAÍS) building, the department provides their students with a broad depth of experience that puts them well ahead of their peers at similar institutions.

 

Media Contact:

Jill Malusky

Public Information & News Manager, NRAO

304-460-5608

jmalusky@nrao.edu

 

Irene Gray, MPA

Marketing & Communications Manager

UNM College of Arts and Sciences Office of Research

igray@unm.edu

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VLBA Marks 30 Years Pushing the Bounds of Science

VLBA Marks 30 Years Pushing the Bounds of Science

On August 20, 2023, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) marked 30 years since the National Science Foundation’s Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) had its inauguration ceremony in the high desert of New Mexico. In the three decades since, the VLBA has become not only one of the world’s most famous radio telescopes, but has also played a key role in radio astronomy across the country and the world. 

The VLBA is a critical tool for astronomy, where knowing distances is the basis for figuring out the mass, makeup, and movement of cosmic objects. High-precision observations are the VLBA’s greatest strength. With the VLBA’s accuracy, astronomers:

  • Measure the spins and shapes of galaxies, including our Milky Way
  • Collect cosmological distances to measure Dark Energy in the Universe
  • Trace the movements of black holes and pulsars to learn their history and future
  • Predict if and when galaxies will collide, including the Andromeda Galaxy with our Milky Way
  • Provide the most accurate distances to stars
  • Pinpoint the exact centers of planets in our Solar System
  • Develop the celestial reference grid used by other telescopes
The VLBA includes ten radio antennas operated remotely from NRAO facilities in Socorro, New Mexico. Locations include St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands), Hancock (New Hampshire), North Liberty (Iowa), Fort Davis (Texas), Los Alamos (New Mexico), Pie Town (New Mexico), Kitt Peak (Arizona), Owens Valley (California), Brewster (Washington), and Mauna Kea (Hawaii).

In addition to these research contributions, the VLBA is utilized by the United States Naval Observatory (USNO). The USNO is a 50% funding partner with the NSF to operate the VLBA. The USNO makes use of VLBA data to develop and maintain the International Celestial Reference Frame which is used by all astronomers across the globe to define coordinates of the objects they study. The VLBA is the majority contributor of data to these reference frames.

The VLBA stations are located in areas with limited radio interference, and widely spread across the country. The distance between any two stations is known as their baseline. The longer the baseline, the better the angular resolution. The most widely separated antennas are at Mauna Kea in Hawaii and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are 8,611 km apart. While each VLBA antenna is identical, each location is unique. With antennas located from New Hampshire to Washington, from Iowa to Hawaii, and within New Mexico in Los Alamos and Pie Town, the VLBA is truly America’s telescope.

The work of the VLBA is far from over. When asked about what’s to come for the VLBA, former VLBA Director and Deputy Assistant Director for VLBA Development Walter Brisken stated, “As new technology emerges, the VLBA’s capabilities continue to grow, and it remains an innovative instrument for radio astronomy.” 

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You can access more information about the VLBA HERE

About NRAO

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF), operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Furthering NSF’s mission to advance the progress of science, the NRAO enables research into the Universe at radio wavelengths and provides world-class telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise to the scientific community. NRAO’s mission includes a commitment to broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and promoting astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates three research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), which are available for use by scientists from around the globe, regardless of institutional or national affiliation. NRAO welcomes applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. For more information about NRAO, go to National Radio Astronomy Observatory .

About USNO

The United States Naval Observatory (USNO) is a scientific and operational facility that produces positioning, navigation, and timekeeping data for the United States Navy and the United States government. Established in 1830 as the Depot of Charts and Instruments, it is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States and remains the country’s leading authority for astronomical and timing data for all purposes.

Media Contact:

Jill Malusky

Public Information & News Manager, NRAO

304-460-5608

jmalusky@nrao.edu

Geoff Chester

USNO Public Affairs Officer

geoffrey.r.chester.civ@us.navy.mil

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Jesse Alexander WB2IFS, Ham Radio and the EMS Project Lead, and three learners from the Wave 1 cohort at the HamSCI.org citizen science conference

NRAO First Wave Completed 20 Weeks of Amateur Radio Learning Program for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Learners

Following a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), the National Science Foundation‘s (NSF’s) National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) launched a two-year project to engage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ learners in learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and discovering the excitement of ham radio. The project, Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) with Amateur Radio, offered its first learner-facing training in January 2023.

The Ham Radio and the EMS project goal is to introduce learners to the EMS and radio technologies by developing a scalable, shareable curriculum on NRAO’s broader impacts-focused SuperKnova learning platform. The curriculum provides hands-on activities to deepen subject knowledge and strengthen learners’ STEM identity while supporting  the attainment of Technician and General Class Amateur Radio Licenses. Additionally, cohort-building exercises and networking with various NRAO staff were prioritized to build comfort, trust, and confidence within the cohort.

The Wave 1 cohort completed the 20-week Technician’s license course, and five learners successfully passed the Technician’s Class license exam. Three of these newly licensed amateurs are continuing in the summer General upgrade class. General Class licenses will provide these learners with greater privileges and access to the amateur radio portions of the EMS. 

Support for this first cohort continues in numerous ways, including reimbursements for membership to local clubs and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL); networking on “Harriet’s Observatory”, a virtual amateur radio club on Discord; virtual office hours with instructors upon request; and hand-on activities related to amateur radio and the use of the EMS. 

Planning for the Wave 2 cohort is in progress, and it will use feedback from the first cohort of learners to improve the program. The Ham Radio and the EMS project has just finished recruitment, made offers to learners, and learners have accepted. The Wave 2 cohort will have 18 learners from across the US. Early support and engagement with amateur radio can create pathways for learners toward future STEM careers and introduce them to a lifelong, rewarding hobby. 

The $315,123 ARDC grant includes support for developing curricula that will be freely available to school groups, community clubs, and educational institutions. This curriculum is set to be available next year. 

To learn more about the EMS/Ham Radio Project, please visit https://superknova.org/ham-radio-project/

 

About NRAO

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF), operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Furthering NSF’s mission to advance the progress of science, the NRAO enables research into the Universe at radio wavelengths and provides world-class telescopes, instrumentation, and expertise to the scientific community. NRAO’s mission includes a commitment to broader, equitable, inclusive participation in science and engineering, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and promoting astronomy to foster a more scientifically literate society. NRAO operates three research facilities: the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), which are available for use by scientists from around the globe, regardless of institutional or national affiliation. NRAO welcomes applicants who bring diverse and innovative dimensions to the Observatory and to the field of radio astronomy. For more information about NRAO, go to https://public.nrao.edu.

 

About ARDC

Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is a California-based foundation with roots in amateur radio and the technology of internet communication. The organization got its start by managing the AMPRNet address space, which is reserved for licensed amateur radio operators worldwide. Additionally, ARDC makes grants to projects and organizations that follow amateur radio’s practice and tradition of technical experimentation in both amateur radio and digital communication science. Such experimentation has led to advances that benefit the general public, including the development of the mobile phone and wireless internet technology. ARDC envisions a world where all such technology is available through open source hardware and software, and where anyone has the ability to innovate upon it. To learn more about ARDC, please visit https://www.ardc.net/.

 

Media Contact:

 

Jill Malusky 

Public Information & News Manager, NRAO

304-460-5608

jmalusky@nrao.edu

 

Rebecca Key, KO4KVG

ARDC Communications Manager

858-477-9903

rebecca@ardc.net

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AUI and the NRAO Announce the Recipients of the 2023 AUI Board of Trustees NAC Bridge Scholarship Award

AUI and the NRAO Announce the Recipients of the 2023 AUI Board of Trustees NAC Bridge Scholarship Award

AUI and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) have announced the recipients of the 2023 AUI Board of Trustees NAC Bridge Scholarship Award. Now in its third year, the scholarship recognizes the academic accomplishments of National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) alums and assists them in the transition from undergraduate to graduate programs.

Amidst the excitement of beginning graduate school and the financial considerations of tuition, there can be additional financial burdens related to moving to a new location and establishing a new residence. The AUI Board of Trustees established the new NAC scholarship award in 2021 to help NAC alums manage these expenses during the transition to the next phase of their academic careers.

This year, three NAC alums have accepted offers from outstanding graduate programs around the country. Each will receive a $5,000 AUI Board of Trustees NAC Bridge Scholarship Award, with AUI and NRAO’s congratulations and best wishes for a smooth start to an exciting new chapter of their lives.

2023 Recipients of the NAC Bridge Scholarship Award

  • Mohan Richter-Addo, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Astronomy
  • Malik Bossett, University of California, Santa Cruz, Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Miguel Montalvo, Princeton University, Astrophysical Sciences

NAC is a competitive program offering summer astronomy research internships to undergraduates and professional development programming and research opportunities throughout the academic careers of NAC alumni.

“This scholarship will help me acclimate to living on my own in a new city, and it will pay for various initial costs of moving, such as new cooking and cleaning supplies,” said Mohan Richter-Addo.

NAC’s goal is to increase the number of students, often underserved by the traditional academic pipeline, in STEM and STEM careers, by creating a diverse network of support for their academic and professional careers from an early stage. Miguel Montalvo said that the Bridge scholarship will make a significant difference to the next stage of his education. “This invaluable support will not only alleviate the financial burden of relocation expenses and unforeseen costs but will also enable me to embark on a transformative journey as I pursue my Ph.D, ” Miguel Montalvo said.

A key component of the NAC program has been the long-term sustained engagement of alums and, perhaps most importantly, the peer and near-peer support that NAC alums offer to each other. As Malik Bossett said, “NAC has helped me connect with other undergraduate and graduate researchers of color, along with allowing me to participate in and present at NACtober in 2020.”

NRAO and AUI appreciate the commitment that NAC alums have to each other and to their own professional journeys, and are proud of their individual and collective accomplishments.

About NAC

National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) is a program of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. NAC is a summer research experience program for undergraduate students in the United States who have been under-served by the traditional academic pipeline. The program aims to increase the number of students in STEM fields by helping them to build networks of support for success early in their academic careers and beyond.

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Baseline 16 — Fast Radio Bursts: Bursting with Mysteries

Baseline 16 — Fast Radio Bursts: Bursting with Mysteries

Fast radio bursts are powerful flashes of light that shine for only milliseconds. Join our host Summer Ash of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory as she talks about how astronomers study these mysterious bursts, and what might be causing them.

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Scientists use Exotic Stars to Tune into Hum from Cosmic Symphony

Scientists use Exotic Stars to Tune into Hum from Cosmic Symphony

For the last 15 years, the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) Physics Frontiers Center has been using radio telescopes supported by the National Science Foundation— including those operated by NSF’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory— to turn a suite of millisecond pulsars into a galaxy-scale gravitational-wave detector. Millisecond pulsars are remnants of extinguished massive stars; as they spin hundreds of times each second, their “lighthouse-like” radio beams are seen as highly regular pulses. Gravitational waves stretch and squeeze space and time in a characteristic pattern, causing changes in the intervals between these pulses that are correlated across all the pulsars being observed. These correlated changes are the specific signal that NANOGrav has been working to detect.

NANOGrav’s most recent dataset offers compelling evidence for gravitational waves with oscillations of years to decades. These waves are thought to arise from orbiting pairs of the most massive black holes throughout the Universe: billions of times more massive than the Sun, with sizes larger than the distance between the Earth and the Sun. Future studies of this signal will enable us to view the gravitational-wave universe through a new window, providing insight into titanic black holes merging in the hearts of distant galaxies and potentially other exotic sources of low-frequency gravitational waves.

Read the full press release from NANOGrav.

A public event discussing the results will take place on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 1pm Eastern Time on YouTube Live.

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A Surprise Chemical Find by ALMA May Help Detect and Confirm Protoplanets

A Surprise Chemical Find by ALMA May Help Detect and Confirm Protoplanets

Scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to study the protoplanetary disk around a young star have discovered the most compelling chemical evidence to date of the formation of protoplanets. The discovery will provide astronomers with an alternate method for detecting and characterizing protoplanets when direct observations or imaging are not possible. The results will be published in an upcoming edition of The Astrophysical Journal Letters

HD 169142 is a young star located in the constellation Sagittarius that is of significant interest to astronomers due to the presence of its large, dust- and gas-rich circumstellar disk that is viewed nearly face-on. Several protoplanet candidates have been identified over the last decade, and earlier this year, scientists at the University of Liège and Monash University confirmed that one such candidate— HD 169142 b— is, in fact, a giant Jupiter-like protoplanet. The discoveries revealed in a new analysis of archival data from ALMA— an international collaboration in which the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a member— may now make it easier for scientists to detect, confirm, and ultimately characterize, protoplanets forming around young stars. 

“When we looked at HD 169142 and its disk at submillimeter wavelengths, we identified several compelling chemical signatures of this recently-confirmed gas giant protoplanet,” said Charles Law, an astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and the lead author of the new study. “We now have confirmation that we can use chemical signatures to figure out what kinds of planets there might be forming in the disks around young stars.”

The team focused on the HD 169142 system because they believed that the presence of the HD 169142 b giant protoplanet  was likely to be accompanied by detectable chemical signatures, and they were right. Law’s team detected carbon monoxide (both 12CO and its isotopologue 13CO) and sulfur monoxide (SO), which had previously been detected and were thought to be associated with protoplanets in other disks. But for the first time, the team also detected silicon monosulfide (SiS). This came as a surprise because in order for SiS emission to be detectable by ALMA, silicates must be released from nearby dust grains in massive shock waves caused by gas traveling at high velocities, a behavior typically resulting from outflows that are driven by giant protoplanets. “SiS was a molecule that we had never seen before in a protoplanetary disk, let alone in the vicinity of a giant protoplanet,” Law said. “The detection of SiS emission popped out at us because it means that this protoplanet must be producing powerful shock waves in the surrounding gas.” 

With this new chemical approach for detecting young protoplanets, scientists may be opening a new window on the Universe and deepening their understanding of exoplanets. Protoplanets, especially those that are still embedded in their parental circumstellar disks such as in the HD 169142 system, provide a direct connection with the known exoplanet population. “There’s a huge diversity in exoplanets and by using chemical signatures observed with ALMA, this gives us a new way to understand how different protoplanets develop over time and ultimately connect their properties to that of exoplanetary systems,” said Law. “In addition to providing a new tool for planet-hunting with ALMA, this discovery opens up a lot of exciting chemistry that we’ve never seen before.  As we continue to survey more disks around young stars, we will inevitably find other interesting but unanticipated molecules, just like SiS. Discoveries such as this imply that we are only just scratching the surface of the true chemical diversity associated with protoplanetary settings.” 

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a major facility of the National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under a cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

About ALMA

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international astronomy facility, is a partnership of the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) of Japan in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. ALMA is funded by ESO on behalf of its Member States, by NSF in cooperation with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) in Taiwan and by NINS in cooperation with the Academia Sinica (AS) in Taiwan and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).

ALMA construction and operations are led by ESO on behalf of its Member States; by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), on behalf of North America; and by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) on behalf of East Asia. The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) provides the unified leadership and management of the construction, commissioning, and operation of ALMA.

Media Contact:
Amy C. Oliver, FRAS
Public Information & News Manager, NRAO
+1-434-242-9584
aoliver@nrao.edu

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NRAO and GBO Results Presented at Multiple AAS 242 Press Conferences

NRAO and GBO Results Presented at Multiple AAS 242 Press Conferences

New scientific results from the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), the Very Large Array (VLA), and the Green Bank Observatory (GBO) will be revealed at multiple press conferences during the 242nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) from June 5-7, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The AAS meeting includes a series of press conferences based on a range of themes. Presentations will highlight new research, including uncovering properties of early universe dwarf galaxies, a peek at radio images of the fastest nova, and how star formation is triggered by an interaction in the Nessie Nebula.

Press conferences will be held in person during the conference, and streamed live on the AAS Press Office YouTube Channel.

Note: Each press conference consists of a panel of scientists presenting 4-5 unique scientific results. The number listed in parentheses indicates the order of presentation for the listed result.

All press conferences are listed and will occur in Mountain Time.

Tuesday, 6 June 2023, 10:15 am MDT – Resolving Stars and Hunting Nearby Galaxies

Star Formation Triggered by the Interaction between the Expanding Bubble and the IRDC Filament in the Nessie Nebula
Jim Jackson (Green Bank Observatory) (2)

Embargo access for members of the press, please contact Greenbank Observatory PIO Jill Malusky at jmalusky@nrao.edu.

Tuesday, 6 June 2023, 2:15 pm MDT – Hot Jupiters to Hungry Blacks Holes

VLBA Images of the Fastest Nova, V1674 Her
Montana Williams (New Mexico Tech) (2)

Embargo access for members of the press, please contact NRAO Public Information & News Manager Amy C. Oliver at aoliver@nrao.edu.

 

NRAO Media Contacts

Amy C. Oliver, FRAS
Public Information and News Manager, NRAO
Tel: +1 434-296-0314
aoliver@nrao.edu

Jill Malusky
Public Information Officer, Green Bank Observatory
Tel: +1 304-456-2236
jmalusky@nrao.edu

 

Additional questions or assistance:

Corrina C. Jaramillo Feldman
Public Information Specialist, ngVLA
Tel: +1 575-842-9366
cfeldman@nrao.edu

 

In addition to the press conferences, dozens of papers with new and ongoing science results from NRAO facilities will be presented during AAS 242 conference sessions. Highlights will be posted to the NRAO web site.

About NRAO

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under a cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

About Green Bank Observatory

The Green Bank Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation and is operated by Associated Universities, Inc. The first national radio astronomy observatory in the U.S., it is home to the 100-meter Green Bank Telescope, the largest fully-steerable radio telescope in the world.

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