Astronomers in the “GBT Observations of TMC-1: Hunting Aromatic Molecules” research survey, known as GOTHAM, have released a spectral line survey with largest amount of telescope time ever conducted, charting more than 100 molecular species only found in deep space.
Recent News
Astronomers Map Mysterious “Dark” Gas in the Milky Way
An international team of astronomers has created the first-ever large-scale maps of a mysterious form of matter, known as CO-dark molecular gas, in one of our Milky Way Galaxy’s most active star-forming neighborhoods, Cygnus X.
Astronomers Spot Magnetically-Guided Streamer Funneling Star-Building Material into Newborn System in Perseus
Using the powerful Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), their team observed— for the first time ever— a narrow, spiral-shaped streamer of gas guided by magnetic fields, channeling matter from the surrounding cloud of a star-forming region in Perseus, directly onto a newborn binary star system.
Image Release: the ngVLA Prototype Handover Ceremony
Credit: C. Jaramillo Feldman U.S. National Science Foundation/NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory
A landmark event for astronomy took place on April 25, 2025, as mtex antenna technology GmbH officially handed over the prototype antenna for the proposed Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) to the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) at a ceremony held at the NSF Very Large Array site on the Plains of San Agustin, New Mexico. View our released image gallery.
The handover ceremony brought together a diverse group of attendees, including colleagues from Mexico and Germany, New Mexico state representatives, contractors from mtex, NRAO and ngVLA project staff, and members of the ngVLA Science and Technical Council, . Notable speakers included NRAO Director Tony Beasley and mtex CEO Lutz Stenvers, who highlighted the partnership and the scientific vision that the ngVLA represents-from searching for Earth-like planets to exploring supermassive black holes.
During the event, guests witnessed a demonstration of the new 18-meter antenna, which features advanced technology such as precision machined and laser etched panels, and structural members constructed of carbon fiber composite materials.This innovative design is expected to set the standard for the approximately 244 18-meter antennas planned for the full ngVLA array.
The ceremony also served as a platform for NRAO leadership and staff to discuss the importance of the ngVLA project with New Mexico and the broader US and international communities. Representatives from local institutions, including the University of New Mexico, attended and emphasized the state’s growing role in global radio astronomy research.
This handover marks a significant step forward in the proposed ngVLA project, setting the stage for further testing and development as New Mexico continues to be a hub for astronomical discovery.
Read more about the ceremony from The Albuquerque Journal and El Defensor Chieftain.
About NRAO
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation, operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
This news article was originally published on the NRAO website on May 12, 2025.
Recent News
Astronomers Share Largest Molecular Survey To-date: GOTHAM Legacy Data Goes Public
Astronomers in the “GBT Observations of TMC-1: Hunting Aromatic Molecules” research survey, known as GOTHAM, have released a spectral line survey with largest amount of telescope time ever conducted, charting more than 100 molecular species only found in deep space.
Astronomers Map Mysterious “Dark” Gas in the Milky Way
An international team of astronomers has created the first-ever large-scale maps of a mysterious form of matter, known as CO-dark molecular gas, in one of our Milky Way Galaxy’s most active star-forming neighborhoods, Cygnus X.
Astronomers Spot Magnetically-Guided Streamer Funneling Star-Building Material into Newborn System in Perseus
Using the powerful Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), their team observed— for the first time ever— a narrow, spiral-shaped streamer of gas guided by magnetic fields, channeling matter from the surrounding cloud of a star-forming region in Perseus, directly onto a newborn binary star system.