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Very Large Array NRAO Panorama. Image courtesy of NRAO/AUI and NRAO. |
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Twelve Meter Antennas, Built By Mitsubishi Electric Co. In Osaka, Japan. Image courtesy of NRAO/AUI and ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO). |
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Very Large Array NRAO. New Mexico:
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The Very Large Array (VLA) is a radio astronomy observatory located on the Plains of San Agustin, between the towns of Magdalena and Datil, some fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico, USA. U.S. Route 60 passes through the complex, which is adjacent to the Boy Scout Double H High Adventure Base. The VLA stands at an elevation of 6970 ft above sea level. It is a component of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). The observatory consists 27 independent antennas, each of which has a dish diameter of 82 feet and weighs 209 metric tons. The antennas are arrayed along the three arms of a Y-shape (each of which measures 13 miles long). Using the railroad tracks that follow each of these arms � and that, at one point, intersect with U.S. Route 60 at a level crossing � and a specially designed lifting locomotive ("Hein's Trein", the antennas can be physically relocated to a number of prepared positions, allowing aperture synthesis interferometry with a maximum baseline of 22.3 miles. In other words, the array acts as if it were a single antenna with a 22.3 mile diameter.
Access to the telescopes and buildings is restricted, but the public is welcomed to do self guided tours of the VLA and the VLA Visitor Center.
The VLA Gift Shop is open daily 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Gift Shop is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. On the first Saturday of every month, there are free guided tours to the public at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. (In April and October, these dates coincide with the opening of the Trinity Site, also offering tours.) The telephone for the Visitor Center is (575) 835-7243.
How To Get There:
The Very Large Array Visitors Center is 50 miles west of Socorro, New Mexico on U.S. Highway 60. From U.S. 60, turn South on NM 52, then West on the VLA access road, which is well marked. Signs will point you to the Visitor Center.
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If you are planning to visit the Very Large Array, NRAO. And if you are coming from outside of New Mexico, you could fly into nearest major airport which is Albuquerque International Sunport (IATA: ABQ, ICAO: KABQ, FAA LID: ABQ) is a public airport located 3 miles (5 km) southeast of the central business district of Albuquerque, a city in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States. It is the largest commercial airport in the state. The airport serves Albuquerque and Santa Fe (also served by Santa Fe Municipal Airport). Then rent a car.
There are many hotels and motels in both areas and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations; through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is also easy to use! We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.
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Plains of San Agustin. Very Large Array NRAO In Distance On Right. |
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Very Large Array NRAO. |
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Very Large Array NRAO. |
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Very Large Array NRAO. New Mexico. | Very Large Array NRAO. New Mexico. |
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Entrance Sign. Very Large Array NRAO. New Mexico. | Eve DeLange At Visitor Center. Very Large Array NRAO. New Mexico. |
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Eve DeLange. Very Large Array NRAO. New Mexico. | Antanna. Very Large Array NRAO. New Mexico. |