NRAO Newsletter
Volume Vol#, Issue Iss#
Day# Month# Year#
NRAO Newsletter
Volume Vol#, Issue Iss# • Day# Month# Year#
West Virginia, home to the NSF Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. (Photo by Erik Svensson, U.S. NSF / AUI / NSF NRAO / NSF GBO)
Upcoming Science Events
ALMA Ambassadors Workshops
August-October 2025 | Various Locations
ADASS 2025
November 9-13, 2025 | Goerlitz, Germany
AAS 247
January 4-8, 2026 | Phoenix, Arizona
Science Spotlight: Complex Chemistry Seeded in the Earliest Stages of Sun-like Star Formation
Dr. Samantha Scibelli is a Jansky Fellow at NRAO in Charlottesville, VA and primarily works on investigating the chemistry and evolution of starless and prestellar cores, which are the natal environments where stars like our Sun form. It is still debated how much of the complex organic (carbon-containing) molecular inventory in these cold (~10 K) cores is inherited to the next stages of star and planet formation. Species with deuterium (the heavier hydrogen) can better probe chemical histories because the degree of deuteration is 'locked in' early during the prestellar stage. In her most recent publication, Scibelli et al. 2025b, Samantha investigates the molecular abundances of singly and doubly deuterated methanol (CH2DOH and CHD2OH, respectively) for the first time toward the prestellar core IRAS 16293E. She finds the abundance ratios and D/H values closely match those of the nearby protostars IRAS 16293A and B that evolved in the same common molecular cloud, strongly supporting the idea of molecular inheritance from the prestellar stage.
Figure above (taken from Figure 6 in Scibelli et al. 2025b): Comparison of deuterated and non-deuterated complex organic molecule (or 'COM') abundances normalized to methanol for IRAS 16293E and the nearby protostars A and B, from ALMA Band 7 PILS data (Jørgensen et al. 2018, Calcutt et al. 2018, Manigand et al. 2020, and Drozdovskaya et al. 2022), as well as from Nazari et al. (2024) that observed IRAS 16293B in ALMA Band 3 (overlaid dotted pattern). Upper limits for CH2CHCN are bins with downward arrows that have an overlaid hatching pattern.
Earlier this year, Samantha demonstrated that not only is the inventory of carbon-bearing species set early-on, but also the inventory of biologically relevant phosphorus-bearing molecules. In Scibelli et al. 2025a, she detects for the first time phosphorus mononitride (PN), phosphorus monoxide (PO), and the phosphorus oxide ion (PO+; only the second detection in the ISM) towards a shocked starless core. The discovery was made possible by Samantha's large survey of starless and prestellar cores in the Perseus Molecular Cloud (Scibelli et al. 2024), and highlights how multi-object and large-bandwidth molecular line observations can lead to serendipitous outcomes. Check out the news release here.
Samantha is currently focused on writing up the survey overview and early results for the large legacy program 'GLUCOSE: the GBT L1544 Unbiased Complex Organics SurvEy', which she leads as PI. This large bandwidth (~10 GHz) molecular line survey (still ongoing) with NRAO's Green Bank Telescope probes the dust peak of the highly evolved prestellar core L1544 at exceptionally high spectral resolution and sensitivity. Her complementary ALMA Band 1 programs (Cycles 11 and 12) are also underway and will unveil at high (core-scale) spatial resolution the distribution of large complex organic molecules toward both the L1544 and IRAS 16293E prestellar cores. These observational studies will be compared to chemical models to better constrain complex organic molecule formation pathways.
Visit Samantha's website for more details on her research and publications:
https://samscibelli.github.io.
Would you like your science featured in the NRAO Science Newsletter? Email the editor Brian Kent with your recent science publications!
CARTA 5.0 Released
We are delighted to announce the release of CARTA 5.0. CARTA, the Cube Analysis and Rendering Tool for Astronomy, is a next-generation image visualization and analysis tool designed for ALMA, VLA, ngVLA, and SKA pathfinders. It can handle large images (cubes) in the FITS, CASA, MIRIAD, and HDF5 (IDIA schema) standards. The server-client architecture of CARTA allows users to visualize local or remote data through a browser interface using GPU accelerated rendering. CARTA is also used for preview visualization of products in the ALMA and NRAO science archives.
CARTA 5.0 is now available at the CARTA homepage.
New features of CARTA 5.0 include:
- Channel map view (raster only)
- Multi-color image blending (Figure above)
- HiPS2FITS online image query (including VLASS quicklook images)
- Dynamic layout
- Image coordinate and flexible offset coordinate
- PV generator with a polyline region
See the v5.0 release notes for new feature highlights, and the CARTA roadmap for a full list of new features and improvements.
This release is another milestone in the CARTA development, a collaboration between ASIAA, IDIA, NRAO, and the University of Alberta. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.3377984.
ALMA Data Processing/Analysis Workshops for Cycle 12
Image Credit - Pablo Carrillo (ALMA)
The North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC) and the Cycle 12 ALMA Ambassadors have organized a series of workshops on the processing and analysis of ALMA data. These workshops will take place in August-October 2025. The goal of these events is to train users on basic data processing and analysis techniques that they may need to use ALMA for scientific discovery. Topics may include:
- Imaging/cleaning of continuum and spectral line observations
- Self-calibration
- Imaging of data from multiple array configurations
- Using the Pipeline Weblog and Re-running the Imaging Pipeline
- Using CARTA for Image Visualization and Analysis
- Science-ready Data Products
- What's New in CASA (Common Astronomy Software Applications)
- The ALMA Press Release Process
Early registration is encouraged, to facilitate tailoring workshop presentations to the interests of the attendees.
| Ambassador | Workshop Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Teja Teppala | University of Missouri, Columbia | September 05, 2025 |
| Pallavi Patil | Johns Hopkins University | October 28, 2025 |
| Pietro Curone | Universidad de Chile | October 29, 2025 |
NRAO/NAASC Positions Open
At the NRAO, we are seeking candidates for the positions of:
- Assistant Director for ALMA North American Operations
- Director of the Green Bank Observatory (GBO)
- Engineer Group Lead, Very Large Array
- Head of ALMA Department of Engineering
- Education Specialist, Green Bank
Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) offers a comprehensive total rewards package for these positions, subject to eligibility requirements. We are committed to serving our employees and their families with an extensive and competitive compensation and benefits package that supports our employees' overall well-being and career growth.
Visit the NRAO/AUI Employment page to learn more.
ALMA News
ALMA is in its large configuration for a few weeks this winter with antennas spread across Llano Chajnantor over an area the size of the Washington beltway, albeit with much slower and sparser traffic! In the background is Cerro Licancabur. Photo courtesy of Pablo Bello (ALMA).
ALMA Status
It is late winter at the ALMA site at Llano Chajnantor. Cycle 12 disposition letters were sent on 31 July; preparations are under way to commence Cycle 12 observing at the beginning of October. Approved Cycle 12 projects are posted.
The array is currently in configuration C-9/10. with the longest baselines of Cycle 11, before moving to more compact configurations b ySeptember 10, when the configuration planned is C-8.
An Observatory Project to undertake 'An ALMA Band 1 Survey of the Hubble Deep Field South' has been approved by the Director.
ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU)
Installation of the new wide-bandwidth ALMA Band 2 (67-116 GHz) receivers continues, as does work on other elements of the ALMA Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade. This includes the upgrade of ALMA's correlators - the observatory's "brain" - which will be replaced with vastly more powerful supercomputers.
ALMA and NAASC Meetings
A Special Session at the 247th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society will be held on the subject of Monitoring the transient sky: the role of ALMA in the WSU era. This session will feature presentations of recent impactful results obtained with ALMA on a variety of time-variable progenitors and phenomena. It will highlight the specific role of sub-mm observations and the impact of ALMA-WSU on time-domain subfields, in particular in the context of extensive transient detections with LSST and Roman.
Upcoming Meetings
Astrochemistry in the Broadband Era Workshop, October 21-23, Portland, Maine
This workshop is intended to survey the current state of astrochemistry in this specific context, identify high-priority science that can be achieved in the Broadband Era, and develop a community roadmap for approaching these new data challenges. Further details, as well as late abstract submission for posters and registration, are available on the conference website.
Poster Abstract Submission Deadline: September 15, 2025
Final Registration Deadline ($600): October 1, 2025
ALMA Announces Observatory Project for Configurations 8, 9, and 10
The ALMA Observatory announces one filler program that has been approved on the main array. The program is designed to fill a potential gap in the 12-m Array observing schedule in Configurations 8, 9 and 10 at LST=21 to 1 h, based on input from scientists at the Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) and the ALMA Regional Centers (ARCs). The proposed program was reviewed by the Integrated Science Team led by the Observatory Scientist, and approved by the ALMA Director.
The approved project is: 2024.A.00047.S An ALMA Band 1 Survey of the Hubble Deep Field South (PI: Jennifer L. Donovan Meyer, NRAO)
The Observatory Project will be awarded Grade C and the data will have no proprietary period. While submitted as a DDT project, this project will not be charged against the 5% allocation of DDT time. The data from this project will be quality assessed by the JAO and released through the ALMA Archive with no proprietary period. Observing priority will be given to any remaining PI science projects and activities to commission new capabilities on the array. The release of any Observatory Project data will be preceded by an announcement on the Science Portal.
North American Development Projects and Studies
These North American Development Projects and Studies have been completed for the current cycle, with reports available.
Projects
- Enabling New Science with the ALMA Phasing System (APS) (Report). Matthews (MIT)
Hardware-oriented Studies
- Wideband Isolators for Submillimeter Astronomy (Report). L. Zeng (SAO)
- Wideband InP and GaAs Intermediate-Frequency Low Noise Amplifiers (extended to end of 2024). (Report) A. Densmore (NRC)
Software or Technique-oriented Studies
- A Detailed Characterization of Spectral Regridding and Noise in the WSU Era (Report). S. Andrews (SAO)
ngVLA Project News
ngVLA Science Working Groups
In July, a survey covering geography and demographics was circulated to current members of the five Science Working Groups. We urge members to complete this short survey by mid-September. The survey results will be used by the ngVLA Science Advisory Council to quantify the breadth of the ngVLA community.
Not yet a Group member but interested in joining? The focus areas of the Groups are (1) Stars, Planetary Systems, and their Origins; (2) Astrochemistry and the Molecular Emergence of Life; (3) Galaxies and Galaxy Evolution; (4) Pulsars, Cosmology, and Fundamental Physics; and (5) Exploring the Dynamic Universe. Sign up anytime using the ngVLA Contact Us link on the Groups' page.
ngVLA Science - Digging Into the Surfaces of Icy Moons
Figure: Left: ALMA image of Callisto. Right: Thermal residuals after Lambertian disk subtraction to highlight temperature contrasts. Polar regions show up as cold because they receive less solar insolation. A cold spot near 60^o W is associated with the large Valhalla impact basin. Credit: Camarca et al. (2025)
Jupiter's four largest moons represent a continuum of geologic activity, from the volcanically active Io to the ancient and heavily cratered Callisto. As Callisto lacks widespread crustal recycling mechanisms, it has preserved some of the largest impact features in the solar system. Additionally, it retains a large blanket of dark material believed to be a sublimation lag deposit with some amount of exogenic dust accumulation (Moore et al. 2004). As such, Callisto is the ideal laboratory to study how an airless, icy surface evolves under the near exclusive control of impacts, dust infall, ice sublimation, and charged particle bombardment. One means by which exogenic processes leave their fingerprint on Callisto is by altering the surface texture. The surface texture of an icy moon, or more broadly, the material properties, can be inferred by measuring how the temperature varies between geologic terrains and with depth, a task that can be accomplished using ALMA.
In Camarca et al. (2025), we mapped the thermal emission across Callisto's whole surface using ALMA (see figure). By imaging the satellite at 97, 223 and 343 GHz, we obtained temperature measurements at three different subsurface depths ranging from ~cm to ~half meter depths. These depth-dependent temperature measurements were interpreted with a thermal model of Callisto's surface.
Using ALMA, we find that even the huge craters on Callisto behave thermally like smaller craters on other icy moons (e.g., colder than surroundings). We find evidence for a cold anomaly on Callisto that is not obviously linked to any crater but might possibly overlap with an area of elevated CO_2 gas detected by JWST (Cartwright et al. 2024), suggestive of either chemically and/or thermally unique terrain in that area. The fact we do not constrain a difference in Callisto's thermal properties among the three frequencies (i.e., subsurface depths) leaves open the possibility we did not "see through" Callisto's dark material blanket. Overall, the ALMA data show us that Callisto's subsurface thermal properties are quite different from its much icier Galilean moon siblings.
With the completion of Callisto's ALMA thermal map, we now have high-sensitivity, high-resolution thermal maps at three frequencies for all three icy Jovian moons, including Europa (Thelen et al. 2024; Trumbo et al. 2017, 2018) and Ganymede (de Kleer et al. 2021). These works will provide a ground-based complement to the Submillimeter Wave Instrument onboard the JUICE spacecraft en route to the Jupiter system. Using the ngVLA, future observations of the Galilean moons will be acquired at spatial resolutions and sensitivities comparable to the present ALMA icy moon dataset. Importantly, ngVLA will operate at lower frequencies that will allow us to probe deeper into the subsurface (>m scales), enabling us to put better constraints on the depth of Callisto's thick dark material blanket and to search for deeper thermal anomalies.
Since 2015 the acronym ngVLA has appeared in 1370+ publications indexed in the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System. This article continues a regular feature intended to showcase some of those publications. We are especially interested in showcasing work done by early-career researchers. The collection of showcase articles can be viewed online. Anyone wishing to volunteer to author a feature should contact Joan Wrobel.
Arizona Radio Observatory 2025B Call for Proposals
The University of Arizona's Steward Observatory solicits proposals for observations with the UA Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) 12-meter Telescope (12M) located on Kitt Peak, Arizona.
At this time, no proposals are solicited for the UA ARO Submillimeter Telescope (SMT; Mount Graham, Arizona) pending the completion of installation and commissioning of a new dual-band 230/345 GHz receiver and a new spectrometer offering bandwidths of 15.6 kHz to 1 MHz.
Proposals for the ARO 12M are invited for observations with the 4-band receiver, which covers the 4, 3 (ALMA Band 3), 2, and 1 (ALMA Band 6) mm bands, and the AROWS backend, offering bandwidths of 20 to 4000 MHz and channel spacings ranging from 9.8 to 625 kHz.
Please note the following restrictions:
- Proposals are accepted from Arizona-affiliated PIs only (UArizona, ASU, and NAU).
- The observations will be limited to the period from October 15 to December 1. From December 1, the 12M will host a visiting instrument.
- In case of oversubscription, preference will be given to student thesis proposals.
Proposers are requested to fill out both pages of the cover sheet, science justification (two pages), technical justification (two pages), and past allocation update (one page).
View the ARO Call for Proposals for complete instructions. The deadline for proposals is 23:59 MST on September 19, 2025.
SMA Call for Standard Observing Proposals - 2025B Semester
We are happy to announce the latest Call for Standard Observing Proposals for observations with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) during the 2025B semester, with observing period November 16, 2025 - May 15, 2026.
The deadline for proposals for the 2025B semester will be:
3 Oct 2025 4PM Cambridge (EDT) = 3 Oct 2025 8PM GMT = 4 Oct 2025 4AM Taipei
The full Call for Proposals, with details on time available and the proposal process, will be available by September 3 at the SMA Observer Center (SMAOC).
We wish to highlight important information which will impact the coming semester, related to our continuing system upgrades and infrastructure improvements. For 2025B, there will be some modest limitations on tuning configurations as we continue to deploy new wSMA receiver and cryostat systems. In addition, we plan to be in our compact (COM) configuration for the entire semester, providing resolution around 3" at 1.3mm and 2" at 870 micron wavelengths.
Details on the SMA capabilities and status can be found at the SMA status website; proposal creation and submission is also done through the SMAOC. We are happy to answer any questions and provide assistance in proposal submission; simply email with any inquiries.
Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems 2025 - Registration now Open
Registration is now open for the 35th annual conference on Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems. The conference will be held November 9-13, 2025 in Goerlitz, Germany, hosted by the German Center for Astrophysics DZA. The meeting is an in-person event with a virtual component.
ADASS provides a forum for scientists and programmers concerned with algorithms, software and software systems employed in the acquisition, reduction, analysis, and dissemination of astronomical data. An important element of the programme is to foster communication between developers and users with a range of expertise in the production and use of software and systems. The programme consists of invited talks, contributed oral and display papers, tutorials, user group meetings and special interest group meetings (collectively "Birds of a Feather" meetings).
Key dates:
- Registration Opens: 31 July 2025
- Financial Aid Registration Deadline: 1 November 2025
- Early Bird Registration Deadline: 15 September 2025
- Final Registration Deadline: 07 November 2025
Recent Science Media Releases
From the Archives
Ellen Bouton
About this month's photograph:
"This is Whiskey Nine Golf Foxtrot Zulu...(W9GFZ)"
With that call, Dave Finley activated Grote Reber's amateur radio call sign W9GFZ for the first time since the 1930s at a Special Events Station on the occasion of the dedication of the Green Bank Telescope, 25 years ago, on 25 August 2000. Over the next two days, six NRAO ham radio operators and ten others (including Nobel Laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT Princeton NJ) operated the stations and were contacted by 1,922 hams from 52 countries. In this photo, (l-r) Mike Barts (N4GU Blacksburg VA), Jim Condon (AD4YM Charlottesville), and Dave Finley (N1IRZ Socorro) operate the three stations set up in the Green Bank warehouse.
Grote Reber was a ham radio operator in the years prior to his pioneering research in radio astronomy. He let his license lapse in the late 1930s, and his call sign was unused and unissued by the FCC until 1997, when Dave Finley, then NRAO's Public Information Officer in Socorro, obtained W9GFZ for the NRAO Amateur Radio Club.
Caption information taken from Spring 2000 Point Source article by Gary Anderson (W8IVF Green Bank WV).
From the Archives is an ongoing series illustrating NRAO and U.S. radio astronomy history via images selected from our collections of individuals' and institutional papers. If readers have images they believe would be of interest to the Archives, please contact Ellen Bouton.
