Penitentes

This image depicts the Chajnantor Plateau — home of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) — with an icy forest of penitentes (Spanish for “penitents”) clustered in mid view. The penitentes are a curious natural phenomenon found in high-altitude regions. They are thin spikes of hardened snow or ice, with sharp edges pointing towards the Sun, reaching heights from a few centimetres up to several metres. You can read more about penitentes in this Picture of the Week (potw1221).

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:west_fig3
Type:Photographic
Release date:23 July 2013, 17:19
Size:3456 x 2592 px

About the Object

Name:Atacama Desert, Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array
Type:Unspecified : People : Other/General
Category:ALMA
People and Events

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