One of the top destinations when visiting New Mexico is the Very Large Array Radio Telescope, more commonly known as the VLA. The radio telescope consists of a series of 27 large radio antennas, or dishes, that are moved around railroad tracks to form configurations that allow astronomers to point to distant objects. Because the radio waves are so large, the antennas are very large, each 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter. The dishes are so large that they can be easily navigated on foot, as long as they are not lit and are relatively flat.
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The data collected from the antennas is combined to create a high-resolution image of what is in space. When all 27 antennas are combined, they essentially make a telescope that would be 36 km (22 miles) in diameter. A large telescope like that, of course, would create a highly sensitive instrument. The VLA approaches the sensitivity of a 130 meter (422 ft) dish.
The VLA is located about 50 miles west of Socorro, New Mexico, on the San Agustin Plains. The Bosque del Apache and the annual Crane Festival are located east of Socorro. Satellite dishes are arranged in three tracks that resemble an inverted Y shape. The way satellites are arranged produces radio sky images. Depending on what astronomers are looking at and where they are observing, the plates can be close together or spread out. Astronomers use four common settings, A, B, C, and D, and come up with proposals to allow time at the telescope for their studies.
The VLA completes a cycle of the four configurations every 16 months.
Projects can last from half an hour to several weeks. The VLA is well suited for taking quick snapshots of its target sources, which is why many astronomers study strong, isolated objects.
The VLA became known after the movie Contact. The story starred Jodie Foster as a radio astronomer who makes contact with an alien life form. Although the film incorrectly depicted Foster listening to radio waves with headphones, the large antennas became an iconic image associated with the search for extraterrestrial life.
Visiting the VLA
The VLA Visitor Center and site are open daily from 8:30 a.m. M. At sunset. The gift shop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Guided tours take place the first Saturday of the month at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm No reservations are required. Please report to the VLA Visitor Center 15 minutes prior to tour time. Admission is $ 6 for adults, $ 5 for people over 65 and under 17 are free. Tours are 45 minutes and go to behind-the-scenes locations at the VLA. VLA staff and volunteers provide tours and answer questions.
First Saturday visitors can also participate in a free evening of night sky viewing at the Etscorn Observatory on the New Mexico Tech campus. New Mexico Tech is located in Socorro.
The first Saturdays in April and October are special open house events. These tours last about an hour and take visitors through VLA operations. The tour is led by staff who are available for questions, and there are hands-on astronomy activities.
Getting to the VLA is about a two-hour drive south of Albuquerque. Take I-25 South to Socorro, then take Route 60 west to the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array Visitor Center. There will be well-marked signs to follow.
The Visitor Center features exhibits on radio astronomy and the VLA telescope. Start your visit with the Jodie Foster movie and then explore the exhibits. A silent video demonstrates how the large satellite dishes move into their setups. There is also a film narrated by Jodie Foster in the center. Outside, a path takes visitors on a self-guided walking tour that ends at the base of one of the giant dish antennas. The walking tour takes visitors past a radio sundial, a gallery of whispering dishes, and a gallery of radio astronomy.
Visitors will end up at the base of a working antenna, then go to the observation deck to view the array.
The VLA can sometimes close due to weather. Be sure to call to make sure they are open, (505) 835-7410.
Learn more about visiting the VLA.
