Editing Submillimeter Array (section)

{{short description|Astronomical radio interferometer in Hawaii, USA}}
{{Infobox telescope|logo = SubmillimeterArrayLogo.png|locmapin=USA Hawaii|}}

The '''Submillimeter Array''' ('''SMA''') consists of eight {{convert|6|m|adj=on|sp=us}} diameter [[radio telescope]]s arranged as an [[interferometer]] for [[submillimetre astronomy|submillimeter]] wavelength observations. It is the first purpose-built submillimeter interferometer, constructed after successful interferometry experiments using the pre-existing {{convert|15|m|0|adj=on|sp=us}} [[James Clerk Maxwell Telescope]] and {{convert|10.4|m|1|adj=on|sp=us}} [[Caltech Submillimeter Observatory]] (now decommissioned) as an interferometer. All three of these observatories are located at [[Mauna Kea Observatory]] on [[Mauna Kea, Hawaii]], and have been operated together as a ten element interferometer in the 230 and 345&nbsp;[[GHz]] bands (eSMA, for '''e'''xtended '''S'''ub'''m'''illimeter '''A'''rray). The baseline lengths presently in use range from {{convert|16|to|508|m|0|sp=us}}. The radio frequencies accessible to this telescope range from {{convert|194-408|GHz|mm}} which includes rotational transitions of dozens of molecular species as well as continuum emission from interstellar dust grains. Although the array is capable of operating both day and night, most of the observations take place at nighttime when the atmospheric phase stability is best.

The SMA is jointly operated by the [[Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory]] (SAO) and the [[Academia Sinica]] Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA).