Click on any picture for a larger view, a potential story, and a print/frame order form. The FAQ button on the left refers to VLA - Very Large Array Radio Telescopes if available.

VLA - Very Large Array Radio Telescopes, NM

The VLA, also known as the Very Large Array is a set of huge radio telescopes on 3 railroad tracks that radiate from a common center. The radio telescopes can be configured, albeit very slowly, in several different ways to combine their data into one uniform picture. The VLA is about an hour east of Socorro, NM, and they have a small visitors center. It's worth a trip if it's on your way to somewhere else.

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The Very Large Array is about an hour west of Socorro, NM on route 60. I didn't count, but there are probably 20 of these radio telescopes that can be configured in many different ways along 3 long spokes across the high desert.

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No matter what the configuration, you'll always see all of the antennas pointed in the same direction. A visitors center exists 4 miles off the main road. If you are going out of your way to see the antennas you might as well hit the visitors center. There isn't more than an hours worth of activities here, so plan accordingly. If you are heading on route 60 anyway, it's definitely worth a stop. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to visit though.

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The VLA antennas are maneuvered via railroad tracks which are configured along 3 spokes.

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