The Very Large Array, one of the world's premier astronomical
radio observatories, consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped
configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of
Socorro, New Mexico. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet) in
diameter. The data from the antennas is combined electronically to
give the resolution of an antenna 36km (22 miles) across, with the
sensitivity of a dish 130 meters (422 feet) in diameter. For more
information, see our
overview
of the VLA. The array is currently in the
C configuration.
We will be offering our regular guided
tours of the VLA every first Saturday of the month, from 11AM to 3PM.
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Read about the fundamentals of radio astronomy.
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What does it take to keep the VLA
working?
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How do you change the
azimuth bearing
on a 230-ton antenna?
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Who
uses the VLA?
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Visit the VLA Art Gallery
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