• BR1202-0725 at z=4.7: redshifted CII line in Band 7;
• IRAS16293: Band 6 observations centered on the CH3CN ladder and HNCO;
• Centaurus A: a 48pt mosaic of the central parsecs in Band 6;
• Orion KL: several tunings combined to provide a spectral survey in Band 6.

Raw and calibrated data are available for download in the ALMA Portal, as well as calibration tables and image cubes. Reduction and imaging CASA scripts are also available.

The European ALMA Science Center has released a preliminary announcement of the next cycle of observations with ALMA. Early Science Cycle 1 is expected to start in January 2013. A Call for Proposals will be issued at 31 May 2012, and the deadline for proposal submission will be 12 July 2012. Cycle 1 operations will be conducted on a best efforts basis, similar to the current Cycle 0 observations.

As done for Cycle 0 projects, users are encouraged to submit a Notice of Intent by May 15. This procedure helps the observatory to prepare the assessment of the proposals to be submitted in Cycle 1.

Cycle 1 anticipated capabilities will comprise:

• Thirty two 12-m antennas in the main array, and nine 7-m antennas (short baselines) and two 12-m antennas (for making single-dish maps) in the Atacama Compact Array (ACA)
• Bands 3, 6, 7 and 9 (wavelengths of about 3, 1.3, 0.8 and 0.45 mm)
• Baselines up to 1km
• Both single field interferometry and mosaics
• Mixed correlator modes (both high and low frequency resolution in the same observation)

More information on the incoming Cycle 1 operations can be found here.

[22 February 2012] As a review of Cycle 0 and in preparation for Cycle 1, the German ARC node will host the German ALMA Community Days in Bonn on 05/06 June 2012.

Besides an introduction to ALMA and its capabilities in cycle 1, the first day will feature a review of the proposal submission and review process and an overview of the support available to German astronomers by the EU-ARC and the German ARC node. In addition, the first science results of approved ALMA cycle 0 projects will be presented. The second day will be devoted to hands-on work, with an opportunity to learn how to use the ALMA-OT or to get one-on-one advice on the technical aspects of the participants' own proposals.

Subsequent announcements concerning this event will be sent to the German ARC node mailing list. To subscribe to this list, please click here.

[02 February 2012] A status report on ALMA Cycle 0 operations and a preliminary timeline for Cycle 1 have been released on the ALMA Science Portal at ESO.

An official update on ALMA cycle 0 operations and a preliminary timeline for cycle 1, released by ESO on 01 February 2012:

"ALMA started scientific operations on 30 September 2011. While the quality of the data being collected is excellent, the completion rate of projects is lower than planned. To increase the likelihood that most PIs of the highest priority Cycle 0 projects will receive scientifically valuable data sets, the Cycle 0 observing period will be extended until the end of 2012. This extension will not delay completion of the array.
The observatory plans to release information regarding the capabilities and timeline for ALMA Early Science Cycle 1 in April 2012. The proposal deadline is expected to be in July 2012 with the start of Cycle 1 observations at the beginning of 2013.

Background

Early Science Cycle 0 observations have been conducted in blocks of 4-5 days every two weeks. By the end of January 2012 approximately 50% of the anticipated observing time for Cycle 0 has been used and we estimate that roughly 25% of the highest priority observations have been completed. While consistent with the "best efforts" basis of ALMA Early Science this is lower than had been planned. Sixteen calibrated, quality assured datasets have been delivered to nine PIs (by the end of January 2012). The data clearly demonstrate the scientific potential of ALMA, and feedback from the PIs has been positive.
Measures are being implemented to increase the observing efficiency, and during the additional period of Cycle 0 observing the fraction of ALMA time used for scientific operations will increase from the current fraction of 33% to around 50%. This corresponds to the intended fraction of time planned for science operations if Cycle 1 had begun as planned. With the increasing number of antennas it will be possible to schedule observations using the extended or compact configuration during the latter part of Cycle 0. There is also an increased likelihood that "filler projects", particularly in band 3, will be observed.
Commissioning and science verification activities are being conducted in parallel with Cycle 0 observations. More ALMA Science Verification data has recently been posted to the Science Portal, and some has already started appearing on the astronomy abstract servers.
The highest priority of the ALMA project continues to be the completion of the full array, expected in the second half of 2013."

(source: ALMA Science Portal at ESO)

[16 January 2012, last updated 22 February 2012] On 27-30 March 2012, the Germany-UK Astronomy meeting and Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting will take place in Manchester, UK. The German, UK and ESO ARC nodes jointly organize an ALMA session and an ALMA lunch on 27/28 March and will be present with an ALMA stall during the whole meeting.

We invite you to participate in the Germany-UK Astronomy Meeting and Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting on 27-30 March 2012 in Manchester, UK, and in particular in the ALMA sessions and lunch meeting on 27/28 March.

The deadline for abstract submission was 3 February, with late abstracts accepted until 13 February. Updates to submitted abstracts were possible for accepted talks up to the middle of February.

The Astronomische Gesellschaft offers financial support to early-stage scientists at German institution who are employed only part-time and who have no other travel funds. For further information, please go to the corresponding webpage of the Astronomische Gesellschaft.

Evolution with ALMA - first science results on the cool universe

[13 September 2011] The European ALMA Regional Center and the German ARC node will be present at the annual meeting of the Astronomische Gesellschaft in Heidelberg on 19-23 September 2011.

The European ALMA Regional Center and the German ARC node Bonn/Cologne be present with an information booth during the whole meeting of the Astronomische Gesellschaft. In addition, we will give an update on ALMA and the support available to the German community on Wednesday afternoon during the splinter meeting LOFAR/SKA (VRS).

Please come and visit us at our information booth!

The first European antenna (DA41) was transported to the Array Operations Site (AOS) in the Chajnantor plateau on 27 July 2011. The european antenna joins the other ones provided by the international ALMA partners, adding up to the 16 components required for Early Science observations. The antenna has been successfully tested for three months in the Operations Support Facility (2900 meters). The next step is to perform technical tests under the conditions at 5000 meters over the sea level.

The Joint ALMA Observatory announces the availability of the first two ALMA Science Verification datasets:

• The protoplanetary disk TW Hya at Band 7 (0.87 mm)
• The luminous infrared galaxy NGC 3256 at Band 3 (3 mm)

The data sets are available through the ALMA Science Portal, via the ALMA Data / Science Verification tab.

Uncalibrated and calibrated data are available, as well as images and data cubes. Data reduction guides are also provided.

These datasets demonstrate the early capabilities of ALMA. The projects were observed before 10 antennas were available and while many of the subsystems were still being tested, so they should not be construed to represent the quality of the data that can be expected during Early Science. They are provided here as a means for the user to become acquainted with the ALMA data structure, observing strategies and reduction techniques.

This latest step towards the start of ALMA operations is the result of a great deal of work by many people from all over the world, particularly in this case those responsible for the delivery of the ALMA archive, the Science Team responsible for Commissioning and Science Verification, and the teams responsible for Science Operations at the ARCs and at the JAO.

The ALMA Cycle 0 Call for Proposals is now open

The first ever Call for Proposals with ALMA has now been issued. Members of the astronomy community are invited to propose for scientific observations to be scheduled within the ALMA Early Science Cycle 0 period which is expected to start on 30 September 2011 or shortly thereafter. This provides an important opportunity for first science from this cutting edge facility. ALMA Early Science Cycle 0 will span 9 months. It is anticipated that 500-700 hours of array time will be available for Cycle 0 projects. Any astronomer may submit a proposal for ALMA Early Science Cycle 0.

The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) expects to start Early Science observations (Cycle 0) on a best effort basis late in 2011 and a call for proposals will be issued at the end of the first quarter of 2011. The purpose of Early Science will be to deliver scientifically useful results to the astronomy community and to facilitate the ongoing characterization of ALMA systems and instrumentation as the capability of the array continues to grow. Early Science will not be allowed to delay unduly the construction of the full 66-antenna array, but nonetheless provides an important opportunity for first science from this cutting edge facility. Early Science will continue through Cycle 1 and until construction of the ALMA array is complete.

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