Microwave telescopes

Telescope Name Location Frequency Range Number of Antennas Key Scientific Objectives Notable Features
Planck Satellite Space (ESA mission) 30–857 GHz Single satellite with multiple detectors Cosmic microwave background (CMB), cosmology, early Universe structure High-resolution CMB maps, provided detailed all-sky surveys
ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) Atacama Desert, Chile 30–950 GHz 66 antennas Star formation, protoplanetary disks, galaxy evolution High-altitude location for minimal atmospheric interference; exceptional sensitivity and resolution
South Pole Telescope (SPT) South Pole, Antarctica 90–220 GHz Single 10m dish CMB, galaxy clusters, cosmology Extremely dry, stable atmosphere at South Pole allows for high-frequency CMB observations
GBT (Green Bank Telescope) West Virginia, USA 0.3–116 GHz Single 100m dish Molecular clouds, galaxy dynamics, pulsar studies Largest fully steerable dish, sensitive at microwave frequencies
ACT (Atacama Cosmology Telescope) Atacama Desert, Chile 90–150 GHz Single 6m dish CMB, galaxy clusters, dark energy Specializes in CMB observations with high sensitivity; located at high altitude
WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe) Space (NASA mission) 23–94 GHz Single satellite with multiple detectors CMB, early Universe, cosmological parameters First high-resolution all-sky CMB map, provided key cosmological data
NRAO 12m Telescope Kitt Peak, Arizona, USA 18–115 GHz Single 12m dish Molecular lines, star-forming regions, Galactic studies Used extensively for molecular line studies, contributed to CMB research
JCMT (James Clerk Maxwell Telescope) Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA 230–850 GHz Single 15m dish Dusty galaxies, molecular clouds, star formation High-frequency sensitivity, optimal for molecular gas and dust studies
APEX (Atacama Pathfinder Experiment) Atacama Desert, Chile 211–1500 GHz Single 12m dish Star formation, molecular clouds, high-redshift galaxies Located near ALMA for southern-sky coverage; studies molecular gas and dust in early galaxies
LLAMA (Large Latin American Millimeter Array) Alto Chorrillos, Argentina (under construction) 35–700 GHz 1 x 12m antenna Star formation, AGNs, molecular gas studies High-altitude location, expected to collaborate with ALMA and APEX for high-frequency observations