THE NEW ALMA PROTOTYPE 12 M TELSCOPE OF THE ARIZONA RADIO OBSERVATORY: TRANSPORT, RECOMMISSIONING, AND FIRST LIGHT

In March 2013, the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) acquired the European 12 m prototype antenna of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) from the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The antenna was located at the Very Large Array (VLA) site near Socorro, New Mexico. During the summer of 2013, the antenna was prepared for the move to the ARO Kitt Peak site in Arizona, and in November 2013, the actual transport began. The 97 ton antenna was transported to Arizona in two major parts: the 40 ft. reflector and the base/receiver cabin, which were reassembled in the dome at Kitt Peak in December 2013. Recommissioning began in January 2014, and �first light� observations occurred in September 2014 at 115 GHz. Scientific observations began in December 2014