The intrusion into the observatory’s systems occurred at 06:14 local time on October 29, and was so extensive that even its e-mail services stopped working. There is good news though.

What is the current state of the telescope?

Located on a plateau 16,000 feet above sea level in the Chilean Andes, ALMA is one of the most powerful and advanced radio telescopes in the world. He helped obtain the first image of a black hole in 2019 as part of a collaborative effort bringing together radio observatories around the world at the Event Horizon Telescope.

The Atacama Large Millimeter Array is highly prized in the scientific world for its ability to observe the light of the cold substances of space, namely gas and dust. This makes it a prime candidate for documenting the fascinating formations of planets and stars when they first appear among gas clouds. Also, since its launch in 2013, the telescope has become the world’s largest ground-based astronomy project, according to the European Southern Observatory, ALMA’s primary operator. Before The closure of ALMA is called a very disturbing event for thousands of astronomers around the world. and about 300 specialists working at the plant.

At this time, experts cannot say how long recovery will take. It is not known who is behind this attack and what their motives are. No word on refund requirements.