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Peg Price | all galleries >> Galleries >> New Mexico - Land of Enchantment > Very Large Array Radio Telescopes
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6 October 2006 Peg Price

Very Large Array Radio Telescopes

near Socorro on Highway 60

"The Very Large Array (VLA), 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. 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..." information from VLA website
On the day we visited the antennas were quite spread out. They sit on rails and can be moved into different configurations (compact or spread) depending on the project.
An awesome sight.

Jodie Foster's movie CONTACT was filmed here.


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