Very Large Array

9/2/25
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The Very Large Array is a customizable interferometer that varies between 2/3 of a mile to 22 miles long depending on the time of year. It is considered to be…
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The VLA captures radiowaves outside the visual spectrum
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Gerda is standing in front of one of the antennas
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The railroad track to move these antennas
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This antennas are massive
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The Very Large Array
has 27 active antenna dishes. Each of these 230 ton antennas can be moved to different locations with the help of a transporter.
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This lets astronomers place them in several patterns known as configurations. The antennas can be clustered together within an area no more than 0.6 miles wide,…
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Each configuration provides unique benefits to astronomers as well as a different visual experience to visitors.
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The antennas changed their configuration while we were there