A groundbreaking discovery has revealed the presence of a blazar—a supermassive black hole with a jet pointed directly at Earth—at an extraordinary redshift of 7.0. The object, designated VLASS J041009.05−013919.88 (J0410−0139), is the most distant blazar ever identified, providing a rare glimpse into the epoch of reionization when the universe was less than 800 million years old.
Recent News
ALMA and the Event Horizon Telescope: Moving Towards a Close-Up of a Black Hole and its Jets
An international research team has shown that the Event Horizon Telescope will be able to make exciting images of a supermassive black hole and its jets in the galaxy NGC 1052. The measurements, made with interconnected radio telescopes, also confirm strong magnetic fields close to the black hole’s edge.
Black Hole Explorer Hopes to Reveal New Details of Supermassive Black Holes
Anew agreement between the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) will help the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) take its next steps – into space.
Anuncio sobre multicancha / Announcement regarding indoor sports facility
Estimados colegas:
Me complace comunicarles que el día de hoy AUI/NRAO Chile firmó contrato con Toptent Ingeniería y Construcción SpA, empresa que se adjudicó el proyecto multicancha. Toptent, y sus socios Constructora Sergenco y Murúa Arquitectos, son reconocidos por su amplia y exitosa trayectoria en proyectos de ingeniería, construcción y diseño arquitectónico. Este proyecto tiene como fin mejorar las condiciones de vida y esparcimiento de los trabajadores de ALMA; y ha sido posible gracias al generoso y excepcional aporte de NSF y NRAO, por sobre el presupuesto normal de operaciones.
Durante la evaluación de las ofertas tomamos en consideración los requerimientos expresados por el staff (a través de la encuesta, grupos focales y reuniones informativas), prestando especial atención a la retroalimentación provista por ARA, como asociación que agrupa y organiza a los deportistas frecuentes. Como verán en las imágenes referenciales, el diseño incluye paredes de hormigón armado y utiliza una doble membrana tensada con vigas de madera laminada como cubierta. Esta combinación de materiales y tecnología busca optimizar el confort de los usuarios en términos de temperatura y ventilación, sin sacrificar la durabilidad y facilidad de mantención. Dentro del recinto habrá un espacio para instalar máquinas de ejercicio (separado del área de juego), así como una sala de primeros auxilios, baños y una bodega. El impacto visual será mitigado mediante una edificación semi-enterrada, además de la membrana que actúa como blackout y el paisajismo que considera la mineralogía natural de la zona.
Con la firma de este contrato, se dará inicio a la ingeniería y posterior revisión del diseño, procesos que durarán aproximadamente cinco meses. Esperamos que la construcción comience a mediados de este año y que la multicancha esté operativa a mediados de 2019.
El 2 de marzo, aprovechando la presencia en Chile de representantes de la NSF y NRAO, realizaremos una ceremonia de Primera Piedra en el sitio, seguida de una breve recepción. Todos los que estén presentes ese día están cordialmente invitados. Una vez hayan finalizado las etapas de ingeniería y revisión del diseño (aproximadamente en junio/julio) organizaremos charlas informativas para compartir los detalles con todo el staff.
Estamos contentos y orgullosos de poder cumplir con el sueño de la multicancha y así fomentar la vida sana de todos quienes trabajamos en ALMA.
Atentos saludos,
Paulina Bocaz
Representante en Chile AUI/NRAO
Dear colleagues,
It is my pleasure to announce that today the AUI/NRAO Office of Chilean Affairs signed a contract with Toptent Ingeniería y Construcción SpA to design and build an indoor sports facility (“multicancha”) at the ALMA OSF. Toptent, and its partners Constructora Sergenco and Murúa Arquitectos, are renowned for their long and proven track records in engineering, construction and architectural design. This project has been made possible by very generous, one-time funding contributions from the NSF and NRAO, outside normal operations funds, to enhance the living conditions for ALMA staff.
During the bidding evaluation, ALMA staff requirements (captured through the survey, focus groups and information sessions) were taken into consideration, paying special attention to the feedback provided by ARA, as the organization that brings together frequent sport users. As you will see in the appended images, the chosen design includes reinforced concrete walls and a tensile double membrane with wood beams as roof. This structure and technology will ensure user comfort in terms of temperature control and ventilation, without sacrificing durability and ease of maintenance. The facility includes an area for exercise equipment separated from the playing ground, a first-aid room, restrooms and storage space. Visual impact will be mitigated by the semi-buried construction, the blackout membrane and landscaping that considers the natural mineralogy of the area.
Contract signature kicks off the engineering period and subsequent critical design review, which should take approximately five months to complete. We expect construction to begin by the middle of this year and the multicancha to be delivered in mid-2019.
On March 2nd, we will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at the OSF when NSF and NRAO representatives are in Chile. Everyone present at the site is cordially invited to join the ceremony and a brief reception to follow. Once the engineering and critical design review are finished (June/July) we will hold information sessions to share all the details with staff.
We are happy and proud to deliver on this long-awaited project, thus contributing to the healthy lifestyle of those who work at ALMA.
Best regards,
Paulina Bocaz
AUI/NRAO Representative in Chile
Recent News
Astronomers Detect Earliest and Most Distant Blazar in the Universe
A groundbreaking discovery has revealed the presence of a blazar—a supermassive black hole with a jet pointed directly at Earth—at an extraordinary redshift of 7.0. The object, designated VLASS J041009.05−013919.88 (J0410−0139), is the most distant blazar ever identified, providing a rare glimpse into the epoch of reionization when the universe was less than 800 million years old.
ALMA and the Event Horizon Telescope: Moving Towards a Close-Up of a Black Hole and its Jets
An international research team has shown that the Event Horizon Telescope will be able to make exciting images of a supermassive black hole and its jets in the galaxy NGC 1052. The measurements, made with interconnected radio telescopes, also confirm strong magnetic fields close to the black hole’s edge.
Black Hole Explorer Hopes to Reveal New Details of Supermassive Black Holes
Anew agreement between the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) will help the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) take its next steps – into space.