The Submillimeter Array


Science

Dying Stars Dying Stars The SMA is able to see the matter stars shed as they die. The dust and gas forms planetary nebulae - some of the most beautiful objects in the sky. This is the process by which much of the material to form rocky planets, like the earth, becomes available for the next generation of solar systems.
Star Formation -- Massive Star Formation We think we know how stars live and die, but our picture of how stars form is incomplete. Astronomers use the SMA to zoom in on star birth, studying the formation and early evolution of both low and high mass stars, their disks, outflows, and magnetic fields.
Plant icon Solar System The solar system is comprised of a variety of bodies, from giant planets like Jupiter to the smallest asteroids and everything in between. RG astronomers use the Submillimeter Array to measure both the thermal emission from solar system objects and spectral lines from their atmospheres.
Our Galaxy's Center Galactic Center The principal focus of the SMA for the study of the Galactic Center region has been to investigate the structure, time variability and polarization of the Sgr A*, the compact radio source associated with the black hole in center of our galaxy.
Other Galaxies Other Galaxies Using the SMA to produce high-resolution images in the far-infrared is an important tool for studying the history of star formation in our universe from detailed studies to better understand neighboring galaxies, to colliding galaxies and extreme starbursts in the early universe.
Circumstellar Disks <i>and</i>Planet Formation Circumstellar Disks  and
Planet Formation The solar system is comprised of a variety of bodies, from giant planets like Jupiter to the smallest asteroids and everything in between. RG astronomers use the Submillimeter Array to measure both the thermal emission from solar system objects and spectral lines from their atmospheres.
Plant icon Polarization Studies Polarized emission of radiation is one of the most important signatures of magnetic fields in the universe. Using a system designed especially for the SMA, scientists are able to learn even more about sources like star forming regions and the center of our own galaxy.