Astronomers have created a detailed map revealing the magnetic fields weaving through TW Hydrae, one of the closest known stars with a planet-forming disk, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).
Recent News
A Million Reasons to Celebrate: NSF NRAO Hits One Million Citations
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) is celebrating a historic achievement: research using our telescopes has now been cited over one million times in scientific literature!
Neighboring Star’s Warped Ring Shaped by Evolving Planets
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have made the highest resolution image to date, revealing new insights into the unusual and mysterious architecture of the debris disk encircling Fomalhaut, one of the brightest and most well-studied stars in our cosmic neighborhood.
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 Reveal Planet Building’s Secret Ingredient: Magnetism
Astronomers have created a detailed map revealing the magnetic fields weaving through TW Hydrae, one of the closest known stars with a planet-forming disk, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).
A Million Reasons to Celebrate: NSF NRAO Hits One Million Citations
The U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) is celebrating a historic achievement: research using our telescopes has now been cited over one million times in scientific literature!
Neighboring Star’s Warped Ring Shaped by Evolving Planets
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have made the highest resolution image to date, revealing new insights into the unusual and mysterious architecture of the debris disk encircling Fomalhaut, one of the brightest and most well-studied stars in our cosmic neighborhood.