Miniature models of the ALMA antennas have been installed in the entrance hall of the ALMA Building in Mitaka. These models are Japanese 7-m and 12-m antennas under construction in Chile, reproduced at a 1:20 scale based on actual antenna drawings.
By using the lever and green buttons on the front operation panel, you can simulate actual antenna movements; driving the antenna in the azimuth (horizontal) and elevation (vertical) directions, tracking the diurnal motion of a target object, and raster scanning (moving the antenna in small motions at short intervals like sweeping the sky with broom ) .These models closely resemble the actual ALMA antennas and have even tiny lightning rods on the quadripod (supporting structure of the subreflector). We are looking forward to day when this exhibition can be opened to the public.
The picture shows 1:20 scale models of the 7- m antenna (left) and 12-m antenna (right) in the entrance hall of the ALMA Building. [Picture and texts provided by Tomomi Sato (NAOJ)]