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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Cradle of Life

Cradle of Life
Cradle of Life “Cradle of Life” by Aldo Spadoni was commissioned by and created for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). This piece symbolically portrays the proposed Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) over the state of New Mexico, looking north. It represents the compelling future radio astronomy investigation areas being defined by the NRAO Cradle of Life Science Working Group. These areas include the study of star and planet formation and the evolution of protoplanetary disks, and investigating the chemistry of planet forming regions in interstellar space, a key to understanding the initial conditions that lead to the development of life. This fine art piece was created digitally. Aldo Spadoni