Very Large Array, New Mexico, USA

The Very Large Array (VLA) is located near Socorro, south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The visitor centre is open daily from morning to dusk.

The VLA is one of the world's main astronomical radio telescopes, consisting of 27 antennas in a Y-shaped configuration. The antennas can be moved, so that at their largest extension they simulate one radio telescope with a diameter of 36 km. This allows for maximum magnification. At the other extreme they can be arranged into a 1 km diameter array, which gives a lower magnification but can image a broader field of view of the heavens.

The VLA is obviously mainly used by astronomers, but has also been used to study weather patterns and to track satellites.




Image courtesy of NRAO/AUI