Journal

Visiting the VLA

10 October 2019

This past week I was in New Mexico to visit the Very Large Array (VLA). Part of this was work on the open house as part of NRAO, and part was a meeting of folks from ACEAP.

Welcome to the VLA. — There are several signs that you have reached the VLA.

The VLA antenna operators knew we were coming.

They operate 27 of these. The collection of antennas forms the telescope. — They operate 27 of these. This is not a radio telescope, but rather a radio antenna dish. The radio telescope is all the antennas together.

The A configuration — The antennas can be moved closer together or farther apart. They were in the A Configuration, which is the most widely spread configuration. Most people like when they are closer together, but I really like the grand sense of scale they had.

At the Lyceum. — In the nearby town of Magdalena there is a telescope museum known as the Lyceum.

A telescope mirror is great for selfies. — A telescope mirror is great for selfies.
Hello fellow kids!

New Mexico Tech. — The VLA headquarters is in Socorro, which is also the home of New Mexico Tech.

Mineral museum. — There is a mineral museum on campus, which has a great collection.

Heading Home. — As I was heading for home, there was a bright rainbow in the sky. It was so bright that you can see the second rainbow.