We visited the VLA following a business trip Evert had in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We combined a night at New Mexico Skies with a visit to this array of twenty-seven, 25 meter radio telescopes. The telescopes are placed along three railroad tracks in a "Y" configuration and their positions can be adjusted. They work together to form a single large antenna. The VLA is also part of the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) that connects with dishes in Hawaii and the Virgin Islands.
The VLA was placed on the flat, dry Planes of San Agustin in New Mexico because it is a location far from large cities and is ringed by mountains that help keep away radio interference. Construction began in 1973 and was completed in 1980. It has been the site of several movies, Contact being one.
The VLA was placed on the flat, dry Planes of San Agustin in New Mexico because it is a location far from large cities and is ringed by mountains that help keep away radio interference. Construction began in 1973 and was completed in 1980. It has been the site of several movies, Contact being one.
One of the 27 radar dishes at the VLA