by Gerald Schieven and Brenda Matthews (NRC-HAA)
ALMA Cycle 13 Call for Proposals
The ALMA Director, on behalf of the Joint ALMA Observatory and the partner organizations in East Asia, Europe, and North America, is pleased to announce that the ALMA Cycle 13 Call for Proposals (https://almascience.org/proposing/call-for-proposals) for scientific observations is now OPEN! ALMA Cycle 13 is currently scheduled for observations from October 2026 to September 2027. Users of any nationality or affiliation are invited to submit proposals before the deadline of 15:00 UT on Thursday 23 April 2025.
Full information on capabilities, time availability, and how to submit a proposal, can be found at the following URL: https://almascience.org/proposing/call-for-proposals
For the first time, a complete suite of receiver bands from Band 1 through 10 will be offered on the 12m-Array. See the article below on Band 2. In addition, proposals will be submitted using a completely web-based Observing Tool. See the article below.
Band 2 offered for Cycle 13 and Science Verification data released!
(67–116 GHz) is anticipated to be offered on the 12-m Array from the start of Cycle 13 (October 2026). As with previous new band introductions (e.g Band 1), the exact start date and number of available antennas may be subject to operational and technical constraints. Based on current receiver integration progress, up to ~43 Band 2 receivers may be available at the start of the cycle.
Band 2 capabilities offered are expected to include:
- Dual-polarization (i.e. total intensity) observing modes available on the 12-m Array, excluding Solar and Pulsar/VLBI.
- On-axis / narrow-field linear and circular polarization, with performance and uncertainties comparable to other ALMA bands.
The Band 2 offering remains subject to factors such as weather conditions, ongoing receiver integration activities, and overall resource availability. For further details, see the announcement at https://almascience.nrao.edu/news/update-on-band-2-for-early-proposal-planning-for-cycle-13.
Band 2 Science Verification data has been released. The data release consists of the following targets:
- G31.41+0.31: spectral scan in Band 2
- SPT 0027-50: spectral scan in Band 2
- Arp 220: spectral scan in Band 2
- HR 5907: full polarization in Band 2
For full details, see the announcement at https://almascience.nrao.edu/news/announcement-of-intent-to-release-science-verification-data-in-band-2.
Web-based OT to be used for Cycle 13 proposal submission
ALMA is pleased to announce that, for the Cycle 13 Call for Proposals, a web-based interface of the ALMA Observing Tool (OT) will replace the previously used desktop-based OT. The web-based OT offers the same functionality as the desktop-based OT. The new interface offers a modernized and optimized view while retaining the same familiar workflow and structure. Proposal drafts will now be automatically saved within the system, without the need to save local files.
As always, users are strongly encouraged to submit their proposals early. This allows users to ensure that their proposals are correctly set up for successful submission, and allows time to seek support from local ARC staff if needed. While this has also been the guidance in previous cycles, Cycle 13 proposers may want to give this guidance special consideration while they gain familiarity with the web-based OT.
More details about the web-based OT are available in the Call for Proposals documentation https://almascience.nrao.edu/proposing/call-for-proposals
ALMA Ambassadors Cycle 13 Proposal Preparation Events
In advance of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Cycle 13 Call for Proposals deadline, the North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC), along with current ALMA Ambassadors, have organized a series of ALMA proposal preparation workshops from March 20 – 31, 2026. The goal of these events is to provide users with the knowledge they need to carry out cutting-edge scientific research using the ALMA facilities. We are particularly interested in reaching new users, so no experience with radio astronomy is required to participate! Many of the workshops are hybrid (i.e. partly on-line), so please check the workshop links (below) if you wish to participate without having to travel.
These ALMA talks are hosted by experienced postdocs and graduate students as part of the ALMA Ambassadors program (https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/ambassadors-program/). Registration for these events is free. The workshops are designed to assist you in proposal preparation and observation planning for ALMA Cycle 13, and may include talks on the following topics:
- ALMA Basics and Cycle 13 Capabilities
- Radio Interferometry Basics
- Cycle 13 Proposal Preparation and the Proposal Review Process
- Introduction to the ALMA Observing Tool
- ALMA Data Products, Archive Use, and Notes on the Pipeline Weblog
- Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA) Simulations
Information on the locations and dates for these workshops is available on the NAASC Community Events webpage <https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/community> and below.
Later in the year, the ALMA Ambassadors will run another series of community events focused on the processing and analysis of ALMA data. Dates and locations for those events will be announced in future.
Canadian Proposal Success in Cycle 12
PIs from Canadian institutions did very well during the Cycle 12 call. Canada has a nominal 7.125% stake in the North American share of the ALMA consortium. In Cycle 12 Canadian PIs were awarded 13.9% of the North American fraction of 12-m Array time, much higher than the mere 1.8% we got in Cycle 11, and still significantly higher than the average over all cycles of 6.9%. Note this is just for priority A+B projects. Including grade C (fallback), Canadian PIs are still getting 13.4% of the 12m-array time, and 18.5% of the ACA time, both well above the nominal allocation.
Globally, there are Canadian PIs/coIs on almost 25% of all projects allocated at high (A+B) priority in Cycle 12.
ALMA Primer Video Series – New Releases
The ALMA Primer Instructional Video series, which can be found on the Science Portal at
https://almascience.nrao.edu/tools/alma-primer-videos, is designed to provide a basic introduction to radio interferometry, calibration, imaging, and other topics in short (5-10 minute), easy-to-digest segments. As a work in progress, new videos are released periodically. Recently a new video has been released featuring a brief introduction to calibrating polarization data (https://youtu.be/E3Ojs3OxdMI?si=OuZPO70J1t7CpTeR). Another video, an introduction to Primary Beams and Field-of-View (https://youtu.be/FzOCsraxQ1k?si=YC5Tm4q23t0iFmpO), was released in late summer.
Other videos in the series include an Introduction to Radio Interferometry, Calibration, CLEAN, and much more. Subscribe to the ALMA Primer Video Series YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@almaprimer920) to be alerted to new videos as they are released.
We are always looking for ideas for new videos, and especially looking for people who would like to help with script generation, animation, and narration. If you have an idea or would like to join the Primer Video Working Group (at any level of effort), please contact gerald.schieven[at]nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
Expected capabilities for Cycle 14
The ALMA Observatory is currently planning for the implementation and commissioning of the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (https://www.almaobservatory.org/en/scientists/alma-2030-wsu/). The impact on science operations, including PI observations, for future observing cycles is currently being evaluated. However, for Cycle 14, the anticipated top-level capabilities — including available observing hours and configuration schedule — remain unchanged. The configuration schedule for Cycle 14 is therefore expected to be similar to that of Cycle 12. The precise information can be found at https://almascience.org/observing/observing-configuration-schedule/long-term-configuration-schedule.
For the capabilities of Cycles 15 and beyond, updates will be provided through the Science Portal once available.
See this announcement on the ALMA Science Portal at: https://almascience.nrao.edu/news/web-based-ot-for-cycle-13-call-and-expected-capabilities-during-cycle-14
Synthesis Imaging Summer Workshop
The NSF NRAO will be hosting the 21st Synthesis Imaging Summer Workshop (https://whova.com/web/Hs49eW8Z%40XxATfbPP3sKYYEAUFCmcHPF8SyHad%40doZo%3D/) in Socorro, New Mexico, from May 26th to June 3rd, 2026. The workshop will consist of a week of lectures on aperture synthesis theory and techniques at a level appropriate for graduate students in astrophysics, covering both radio interferometry fundamentals and state-of-the-art methods and techniques. The program will include discussion groups, and tutorials demonstrating data collection, calibration, and imaging of various types of observations, including new data from the NSF Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), NSF Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and a special tour to the NSF VLA site.
This year the workshop will also include a session on optical interferometry (lectures, tutorials), and a visit to the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) site.
Visit the workshop website (https://whova.com/web/Hs49eW8Z%40XxATfbPP3sKYYEAUFCmcHPF8SyHad%40doZo%3D/) for information on registration, program, and logistics.
