A group led by Fujimoto-san et al have uncovered a primordial galaxy, just 930 million years after the Big Bang (z=6.072). The galaxy is composed of at least 15 dense, star-forming clumps embedded within a rotating disk like a "Cosmic Grape". These clumps, with sizes ranging from 10 to 60 parsecs, dominate 70% of the galaxy's UV light, and are reshaping our understanding of early galactic structure formation. More than 100 hours of joint ALMA and JWST observations were made, amplified by gravitational lensing, making this one of the most studies early galaxies.

More information on https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/alma-and-james-webb-space-telescope-shed-light-on-cosmic-grapes/

We have passed the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade System Preliminary Design Review (PDR), and the Critical Design and Manufacturing Review (CDMR) for the Observing Support Facility (OSF) Correlator Room (OCRO)… learn more here! https://alma.loadingediciones.cl/dev/es/alma-moves-forward-with-its-scientific-upgrade-progress-on-the-wsu-project/

This is my second migration on Mastodon, so I think an Introduction might be in order. I'm moving in to this account (that had lived independently, to test some of Mathstodon features) after astrodon.social is being sunset. Hope that Astrodon as a concept still lives!

I currently work in Systems Engineering for radio telescopes (in particular, the ALMA radio interferometer). I’ve also worked in software development and management for the SKAO observatory, and for the archive department at ESO. Of course, I'm also very interested in math (specially that having to do with system theory), so I'll try to get a bit stronger there.

Glad to see you all around!

Using data from ALMA and advanced simulations, a research team led by Santiago Orcajo from the Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata in Argentina (CONICET and Universidad Nacional de La Plata) has presented a new model that traces the evolution of protoplanetary disks through five distinct stages. The results strongly support a planet-driven origin of these substructures and offer new insights into how planets interact with the disks in which they form.

Stage I: Very young disks with shallow or no obvious substructures, corresponding to an epoch in which protoplanets are not massive enough to carve noticeable gaps in the disks.

Stage II: Disks with relatively narrow, but clear gaps and rings, indicating the growth of protoplanets

Stage III: A rapid widening of the gaps due to the sudden growth in the mass of some planets when they acquire their gaseous envelopes. This stage includes the rapid accumulation of dust at the outer edges of the gaps (the inner rims of the outer disks) due to the strong “pressure bumps” caused by the giant planets that recently formed, which stops the inward drift of dust.

Stage IV: Dust filtration at the edges of the cavities, resulting in dust-depleted inner disks. The millimeter dust from the outer disks efficiently drifts in and accumulates at the edges of the gaps.

Stage V: Eventually, the dusty inner disks drain completely onto the stars, and the outer disks become narrow rings (or collections of narrow rings).

More info: https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/alma-inspires-new-models-for-the-evolution-of-planet-forming-disks/

Six years since ALMA crucially helped the Event Horizon Telescope take the first image of a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy… you can relive it all below!

https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/press-releases/astronomers-capture-first-image-of-a-black-hole/

I’m happy to share that we’re looking for what we call a Communities Liaison: the person that will support the ongoing relationship of the observatory with the local communities in the San Pedro/Toconao area, including their leaders and elders.

Does it sound like something you can do? Please apply online https://www.comeet.com/jobs/almaobservatory/F5.001/communities-liaison--part-time-grade-14/89.15E

Or please share it with other people who might find it a good fit for them!