Why is the core radio telescope that "shoots" black holes placed in Chile?

Recently, the first black hole photo in human history (the image obtained by computer processing the data obtained by astronomical telescope) caused a sensation all over the world. But few people know that "camera" is the great hero of "shooting" black hole photos.

What does Atacama's Large Millimeter Wave/Submillimeter Wave Array Telescope (ALMA) look like, and why Chile where it is located is recognized as an excellent place for astronomical observation by international astronomical circles.

Now all countries in the world have built large telescopes in Chile. The Winter Peak Observatory of the South American Astronomical Center of China Academy of Sciences is also being built there, which may add luster to China's large-scale international cooperation in astronomy in the future.

Experts explained that because this telescope is not a simple radio telescope, it consists of 66 parabolic antennas with a diameter of 7 to 12 meters, and the diameter can reach 16 kilometers.

It represents the most advanced observation capability of international radio astronomy today, with an observation efficiency one order of magnitude higher than that of similar equipment owned by previous countries, and the resolution can exceed Hubble Telescope 10 times.

Chile has the reputation of "starry country". Atacama Desert has excellent astronomical observation conditions all over the world, and the number of sunshine nights in the whole year can reach about 320 days. The airflow is stable, the air is dry and there is no light pollution. Coupled with the long-term and stable support policies of the Chilean government, many countries have built large telescopes in Chile, and even more than a dozen large-scale projects have been built here at the same time.

In addition to ALMA, the next generation giant telescope built by the European Southern Observatory is also being built in Chile. This telescope consists of 798 small hexagonal lenses spliced into a main mirror with a diameter of 39.3 meters, with a light collection area of 978 square meters. It is expected to become the largest optical telescope in the world after its completion in 2024.