The largest astronomical array in North America is one step closer to becoming a reality. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) of the United States announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF, US) has awarded a 3-year, $21 million dollars grant to Associated Universities, Inc. to further the design of the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA).
The ngVLA observatory is planned to consist of more than 240 antennas, distributed mainly in the southern United States of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, together with some antennas placed in the north of Mexico.
In Mexico, the Institute of Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics (IRyA), at UNAM Campus Morelia, is leading the project, particularly regarding the antennas planned for northern Mexico. Carlos Carasco-González, researcher at IRyA, announced the awarded funding stating that its is “excellent news for the project”.
The project is in its design stage, and a Conceptual Design Review is expected next Spring, supported by this most recent award. While this does not yet represent a commitment to construct the telescope, the review signals the project’s strong scientific and technical promise and growing project readiness. This and two more reviews at later stages will provide NSF with the critical information needed to consider adding ngVLA construction to a budget request later this decade.
About the ngVLA
The concept for the ngVLA was created in 2016, and the telescope was presented to the ASTRO2020 Decadal Survey in the United States in 2019. Delivery of the ngVLA prototype antenna to the New Mexico site is expected in summer 2024.
To learn more about the role of UNAM in the ngVLA, watch these videos (in Spanish):
ngVLA: Next Generation Very Large Array - El papel de México
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation, operated under a cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
Webpage of the ngVLA: https://ngvla.nrao.edu/
About IRyA, UNAM
The Instituto de Radioastronomía y Astrofísica (IRyA), or Institute for Radioastronomy and Astrophysics is an academic unit at UNAM, Campus Morelia, Mexico. We perform high-level and high-impact research in the areas of interstellar medium, star formation, evolved stars, high energy astrophysics, Galactic dynamics and structure, extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. We contribute to the education of high-level human resources through a postgraduate program, and we have close contact with society through diverse outreach programs.
If you are interested in our Institute, visit the English version of our webpage, www.irya.unam.mx/web/en
Media contact:
Dr. René A. Ortega Minakata
Outreach and Science Communication
IRyA UNAM Campus Morelia
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Text: NRAO (link below), modified by IRyA UNAM
https://public.nrao.edu/news/21-mil-nsf-ngvla-design-award/