The final antenna for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) project has just been handed over to the ALMA Observatory. The 12-meter-diameter dish was manufactured by the European AEM Consortium (Thales Alenia Space, European Industrial Engineering, and MT-Mechatronics) and also marks the successful delivery of a total of 25 European antennas.

ALMA equips 66 antennas in total. North America has provided 25 12-metre antennas, while East Asia has delivered 16 (four 12-metre and twelve 7-metre). This delivery of the European last antenna now completes the ALMA antenna construction phase and provides all 66 antennas for science use, marking the beginning of a new era of discoveries in astronomy.

This movie shows the antenna being moved from European antenna
construction area on a giant transporter.

The picture below shows the final antenna for the ALMA project, just before it was handed over to the ALMA Observatory.
Credit: ESO/C. Pontoni