Boundless Starbirth

Vast regions where new stars are being born highlight this early image from a powerful new radio telescope under construction in Chile. The image shows the Antenna galaxies, which are two spiral galaxies that are in the process of merging. Clouds of gas in the galaxies ram together, triggering the birth of thousands of new stars. The cores of the two galaxies are the bright yellow-orange knots at top right and lower left, while the other regions are in the spiral arms. The new telescope, known as ALMA, begin limited science operations in early October with an array of 22 radio antennas. When completed, the array will have more than 60 antennas. This image, obtained before science operations began, was compiled with just 12 antennas. [ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)]