More of Our ALMA Adventure in Chile's Atacama Desert

The first of two episodes about our journey to Chile’s Atacama Desert, home to the ALMA Observatory, the radio telescope that is humanity’s most ambitious astronomy project.  Join Mat Kaplan among the giant dishes at 16,500 feet above sea level. Bill Nye talked with a congressman about saving planetary science, and Bruce Betts has the latest on comet Pan-STARRS.  You may win Bill Nye’s voice on your answering system!

Related Links

• Complete interviews with ALMA guests of Planetary Radio
• VIDEO: See the cosmic dance of the ALMA dishes and more!
• Photo Album of Mat Kaplan's ALMA Adventure
• The ALMA Observatory
• Mat's Atacama Diary Entries
• Emily's Blog-LPSC 2013: Sedimentary Stratigraphy With Curiosity and Opportunity

Trivia Contest

This week's prize is Bill Nye the Science Guy's voice on your answering system!

This week's question:
What is the term for where the solar wind slows down from supersonic to subsonic?

To submit your answer:
Complete the contest entry form at http:planetary.org/radiocontest no later than Monday, April 1, at 2pm Pacific Time.

Last week's question:
What surface feature on Venus is taken as defining the prime meridian? (Longitude 0 degrees)

Answer:
The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:
What is the highest permanent astronomical observatory, and how high is it?

Answer:
The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) is at 5,640 meters (18,500 feet), just five kilometers from ALMA!