Very Large Array

11/14/2014

The Very Large Array is a radio astronomy observatory located on the Plains of San Augustin, west of Socorro, New Mexico. I've always wanted to see it, and this time we made the effort to go...

The observatory consists of 27 independent antennae, each of which has a dish diameter of 25 meters (82 feet). They can be moved to prepared locations along a 'Y' shaped track that extends 21 km (13 miles) in each direction. With a maximum baseline of 36 km (22 mi): in essence, the array acts as a single antenna with that diameter.

The morning we went to visit, they were in a close configuration....and they were all turning simultaneously to point at some new far off spot in the universe....

We took the free, self-guiding tour.....

Efreet, who is interested in all things scientific, was very impressed....

4 Comments

Brigitte

11/14/2014 02:09:01 am

I feel like Efreet, i'm very impressed too. Wish i could see that, but it's a long way from Germany. But your photos are great. I love them.

Jane

11/18/2014 05:58:06 am

What amazing photos to get such a HUGE structures to look in scale with such very small dolls!
I am in awe!
I feel as if I am watching a real family on holiday!

And what an amazing place too....well worth the effort to visit.

Martha

11/18/2014 06:06:29 am

I had to lay on the ground to make the dolls look in scale. Thankfully it was a self-guided tour and there were only two other people out that morning. I waited until the other people had moved on. I'd never have gotten down on the ground like that if it had been busy.

Jane

11/18/2014 06:11:53 am

I thought you must have done.....thank you!

Very Large Array

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