LIVE VIDEO: 9 News at 5:00    Watch
 

World's largest telescope array to open in Chile

7:14 AM, Mar 13, 2013   |    comments
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • - A A A +

ATACAMA DESERT, Chile - Scientists and engineers Tuesday prepared for the official inauguration of the world's most powerful observatory in Chile.

The observatory is home to the world's largest radio telescope. It has actually been functioning since 2011.

But, now, 50 of its antennas, which can be arranged to maximize their efficiency, will all be working together. The observatory promises to probe deeper into space than any other telescope.

"We're celebrating that we have more than 50 antennas in operation. We took that number because to have all 66 finished could take a little bit longer because you know the end of the project is very hard to sharply plan and define," Thijs De Graauw, ALMA director, said.

(Copyright © 2013 NBC Universal, All Rights Reserved)