Peering back in time, around 12 billion years, astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have found the most distant and direct evidence of scorching gas in a forming galaxy cluster, SPT2349-56. The hot plasma, seen when the Universe was just 1.4 billion years old, is far hotter and more pressurized than current theories predicted for such an early system.
Recent News
Cosmic Lens Reveals Hyperactive Cradle of Future Galaxy Cluster
Astronomers using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have discovered a rare protocluster that was exceptionally bright, all when the Universe was 11 billion years younger. The system, called PJ0846+15 (J0846), is the first strongly lensed protocluster core discovered, revealing how some of the most massive galaxy clusters in the present-day Universe began their lives.
Stars That Die Off the Beaten Path
Astronomers have created a detailed forecast of where they expect to observe future stellar explosions in a nearby galaxy, opening a new window into how exploding stars shape the cosmos.
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
New Discovery Challenges Evolution of Galaxy Clusters
Peering back in time, around 12 billion years, astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have found the most distant and direct evidence of scorching gas in a forming galaxy cluster, SPT2349-56. The hot plasma, seen when the Universe was just 1.4 billion years old, is far hotter and more pressurized than current theories predicted for such an early system.
Cosmic Lens Reveals Hyperactive Cradle of Future Galaxy Cluster
Astronomers using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have discovered a rare protocluster that was exceptionally bright, all when the Universe was 11 billion years younger. The system, called PJ0846+15 (J0846), is the first strongly lensed protocluster core discovered, revealing how some of the most massive galaxy clusters in the present-day Universe began their lives.
Stars That Die Off the Beaten Path
Astronomers have created a detailed forecast of where they expect to observe future stellar explosions in a nearby galaxy, opening a new window into how exploding stars shape the cosmos.