The Very Large Array is one of those must-see sites if you have a bit of scientific curiosity. It is very out of the way (to avoid external radio noise), but very well worth the two-hour trip from Albuquerque. It is absolutely inspiring. I recommend attending during an open-house where the researchers, scientists, and support people are there to share their vast knowledge. Stunningly good. https://public.nrao.edu/visit/very-large-array/ read more

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Very cool stop we didn't plan on making. So glad we did! Great tour guides and very easy walking tour. Didn't think we would but plan on at least an hour there. Tour guides were very friendly and knowledgeable and didn't make you feel dumb for asking questions. read more

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Should be on everyone's Bucket List. Especially those with a strong science gene. Twice a year they have Open House Tours and Lectures, but they are open year round for quiet individual visits. Do you know why they are in this location in New Mexico? Do you know what they do and why? Do you know their future? read more

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SCIENCE !!!! The VLA is one of the best for science exploring the universe. And I like it because the site manager was the father when they were building it. Also used in the movie CONTACT . You start a walking tour at the visitor center. One of the first points is a dish. It's HUGE !!! The visitor center has a bunch of things to buy. Truly a great example of taxes spent properly read more

Shout out to Bob and Chris at the Karl Janskey VLA! It was nice to see you all again. Glad I was able to take my now husband to visit one of my favorite happy places. Can't wait to see what the New Generation of Arrays start to find. I'm so excited to see the progress! In my last post I started I was there for the 25th anniversary of Contact. I actually was last there 6 years ago when I took my mommy and my sister the awesomeness that is the VLA. Perfect timing...we were there to witness the wide survey and probably the last time they gave the tour inside where the magic is. What can I say about the peeps in the gift shop? Always so welcoming. I guess you can see tell my excitement that the VLA is truly one of my favorite places. I love too far to visit often ( hence the 6 yr gap) but I will forever make it a point to visit every chance I get. Thanks again to Bob and Chris. We'll talk again soon! read more

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Bucket List stuff right here lady's & gents Each dish 27 of them is 82 feet in diameter, weighs in @ 230 tons, and is mounted on railroad tracks which allow easier repositioning. The resolution is set by the size of the array. At the highest resolution, it could see a golf ball 100 miles away. Astronomers using the VLA have made key observations of black holes and protoplanetary disks around young stars, discovered magnetic filaments and traced complex gas motions at the Milky Way's center, probed the Universe's cosmological parameters, and provided new knowledge about the physical mechanisms that produce radio emission. read more

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Super cool site. I've visited a few times now and would recommend any astronomy/science nerd make a point to do the same. Note that the hours have changed (Thurs-Sun, 9 to 4) and advance tickets are required. Which was a bummer this time because we stopped by on a Wednesday only to find it closed to visitors. read more

I was disappointed that the gift shop was closed. When I arrived, there was a sign taped to the door saying it is closed until October 21 in preparation for an open house event. I was on my way to Albuquerque and made plans to detour to the VLA to get something from the gift shop before continuing on my trip. I called the gift shop a couple of times this past week to see if they were going to be open (the last time I was here it was also closed) but nobody answered the phone. The automated message listed off the operating hours for the site but made no mention of the gift shop closure. I had checked the website beforehand and it didn't say anything about it either. I even looked at the NRAO Facebook page. read more

The very large array is a very long drive from the freeway... Is it worth it? Yes I think so but be ready for a three hour commitment minimum (1 hour there, 1 hour at the Array and 1 hour back to the freeway). This experience will includes a small interpretive center, a walking trail to one of the radio telescopes, and a peek into the telescope maintenance shed. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see a working scientific equipment up close.. Tips. First off there is misleading and conflicting information on taking pictures here. Phone cameras are not allowed and must be turned off. Tho when you read the expanded rules in the bathroom you can use your phone for a quick picture. Regular cameras are okay (Nikon, Canon, etc). This place closes as dusk. But the gift shop closes at 4:30. You come at 4:39 and you're here for free. The main building and surrounding area will remain open and unlocked until security comes by and chases any stragglers away when it's dark. We came at about 5pm and the sun was setting and when we left at 6pm is was almost dark . We were the only people here.. read more

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A must see if driving in New Mexico, check hours they close around 430pm. Worth the historic knowledge.

The Very Large Array (VLA) is one of the absolutely coolest places I've ever visited. It is a must stop for anyone interested in astronomy, engineering or even just a place to ponder what is out there. The VLA address says Socorro, New Mexico but it is located 50 miles west of Socorro. The GPS coordinates are 34 04'43.497N, 107 37'05.819W The drive feels like you are driving out in the middle of nowhere. In total, it is a two-hour drive from Albuquerque. (The Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Center that is a cool place to visit on the way). I stayed in the small town of Magdalena. It is a good place to spend the night and have dinner. Like other Yelpers have mentioned, if you have seen the movie Contact, you will immediately recognize the radio telescopes when you come up over the last hill. There is a small fee to do the tour and center. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet, since the US won't make the switch to metric) in diameter. The data from the antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of each antenna into one big picture. You can take the self-guided walking tour to see a telescope close up. There are signs on the self-guided tour are easy to understand and give you an understanding of what the telescopes do and how they work. There is a nice Visitor Center with amazing exhibits describing radio astronomy and the VLA telescope and show a documentary narrated by Jodie Foster. They even have a gift shop offers cool VLA souvenirs and educational materials. I recommend the VLA. It is such a magical mystical experience seeing how huge the radio telescopes really are. Also, just being out in the quiet is relaxing and rejuvenating at the same time. Bring water and snacks so you can picnic in the area. I really enjoyed the entire trip and I hope you will, too! read more

I decided to take the road less traveled... ... and found THIS!!! Really Truly no words can describe how I felt at this moment... I'm on this road trip for six weeks and this was my second day. I spent the first night in Truth or Consequences (which I highly suggest and enjoy the hot springs!) so I decided to go west from Socorro instead going up to ABQ. I was just driving along and I see a sign "The Very Large Array Visitors Center". I thought in my head "What's that?" and kept driving... then I saw these huge dish satellites... and a place to pull over so I stopped. There were some bicyclers that had stopped for a break. I asked them what it was. I didn't get a good answer. I asked them could this be from the movie "Contact" and I got a shrug. Oh hell, I'm turning around... I have to check out what this is... I traveling alone and don't really have a deadline to be anywhere... I had no phone reception out in the middle of nowhere (and I have AT&T) so I couldn't 'check in' to Yelp or check what this was about. So two miles back, then another mile or two to the visitor's center. Signs are asking you to turn off your phones when you arrive. I walk into the doors and I see pictures of the movie "Contact" ... and I start crying! I LOVE CONTACT! I can't believe I'M HERE!!! Bon Jovi's video and album cover for Crush was also filmed here as many other have also been... * NOTE * if you stop by on the first Sat of the month, they open the doors to have a look inside the control room... so maybe one day I'll plan my trip accordingly. also on a side note to this story, over the past month, a new friend and I had started bonding over Ancient Aliens and other stories so it was just weird coincidence / serendipity that this happened to me.... just so amazing that I'M HERE!!! Of course I'm going to pay your cover charge to walk around the grounds and watch your movie in the little theater... and of course I'm going to buy stuff in your gift shop! The dishes even turned positions while I was there... and I got to see fighter jets fly above while snapped photos. This visit was unreal and surreal. Bucket List Check! ... and I didn't know it was on there! Loved it! read more

The Very Large Array Visitor Center - When I go back, I plan to recreate this photo if I can...  Photo pillaged from web... check out my other photos tho... - Visitor Centers Near Me - Magdalena, New Mexico

I just got back from spending 5 days in New Mexico. It was tough narrowing down what to do, especially since I kept coming up with one day trip after another. But one spot quickly topped my list -- a day trip to the Very Large Array, one of the world's top astronomical radio observatories, part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. While scientists geek out about the site's technology, it's probably best known by regular folks (or at least me!) as the eerie backdrop to the 1997 film Contact, based on the Carl Sagan novel about alien communication. The drive from Old Town Albuquerque, the closest city, to the Very Large Array takes about 2 hours and is in the middle of nowhere. I mean, we're talking nothing but empty desert in all directions here people. Before you leave the comfort of Albuquerque, I recommend getting a quick breakfast to fuel up for the day. AND plugging in the address in your iPhone before leaving civilization and cell reception. So I'm gonna just lay out right now -- the Very Large Array doesn't offer anyone the chance to call E.T. and phone home. What? The movie Contact was all a lie? Turns out the site uses something called "radio astronomy" or large dishes to observe naturally occurring radio emissions from space. The technology maps out distant stars, planets, galaxies and clouds of dust and molecules. And here I was ready to talk with some aliens. Oh well. It turns out that the site was pretty fun and educational regardless. The visitors center is open to the public where you can do a self-guided tour most days. Or join a 50-minute guided tour, which happen on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM. No reservations are required, simply show up at the Very Large Array Visitor Center 30 minutes before the desired tour time. If you're doing a self-guided tour like us, I recommend starting off in the very first room that gives an overview of the filming of Contact. It turns out the weather was horrible and pretty much rained most of the production. And it looked so calm in the movie. The welcome film was surprisingly good. It gives a nice overview of the operation and the achievements of the Very Large Array, which has been at the forefront of astrophysical research since 1980. You'll also get to see the major undertaking to keep it functioning -- and watch the transporter crew move these behemoths over railroad tracks across the empty desert. But if you have youngsters in tow (or just fall asleep in documentaries), you might want to spend most of your time exploring the outdoor exhibits with interactive science displays. The total walk outside took about 1 hour, but you could do it probably in 20 minutes. We basically were reading every sign along the way. For the final stop along the self-guided trip, you'll need to hop in the car. Though, we were completely lost and quickly were stopped by security. As you might imagine, security is tight here! read more

My family and I were on our way back from our trip to Colorado, we decided to make a stop at the VLA visitor center. The movie Contact (as well as several other movies were filmed at this site). Our kids range from ages 8-14. There is a small area where it goes through how the telescopes work as well explain what discoveries have been made because of them. There is a short film you can what in a small theater about the history of VLA and how they have innovated the technology that is being used, it is 23 minutes long. There is some walking involved to see everything on dirt paths but it's not too bad. This is a great place to visit if you are in the area. read more

The Very Large Array Visitor Center - Visitor Centers Near Me - Magdalena, New Mexico

Mind blowing. Fascinating explanation of how the universe is being understood and its presented in a way that's easy to understand but engaging. Great for kids or adults. read more

Remember the 1997 movie Contact by Jodie Foster, where the alien signal is first detected? How about 2009 science-fiction film Terminator Salvation? I am sure we've seen many satellite dish lined up in those movies or somewhere. So this is the place! When my friend suggest to see a large dish, I wasn't too motivated as I've seen one at Mauna Kea in Hawaii. We decided to drive by anyway to see what is it like. As we got closer, I became excited and with lots of questions. Why here? What are they used??? My curious mind wanted to go in and pay $6 admission fee to go inside. ($5 with AAA card, or 18 or younger is free). Short film to explain this facility and function was very informative. Now I know why here and what they are used for. They have self guided tour available and I read everything that was there and learned as much as offered. They are located so far away, middle of nowhere for a reason, if it is hard for you to travel, I highly recommend going to their website for virtual tour. I was like a little kid amazed by what these dish can do. If you decide to visit, I recommend during D configuration when dishes are closest together. When I went, it was A configuration and dishes are farthest apart from each other. Configuration changes every 90 days. Check their web site for proposed schedule. Super computer, full inside upgrade, communication with hubble, how each dish configuration collects different data, all there was fascinating. Semiconductor has advanced significantly since 1970s, how they worked on upgrade interested me a lot. Felt as such a nerd while there for overly getting excited but it is exciting here if you are interested in such things. If you do decide to visit here, don't forget to change your phone to airplane mode. read more

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The VLA is located on the Plains of San Augustine in a remote and sparsely populated region of New Mexico. The site is at an elevation of 6970 feet and is ringed by mountain peaks that keep any radio interference from the surrounding areas from interfering with the telescopes Highway 60 is an almost straight two lane highway from Socorro, and unless you want to drive more than 50 miles on a dirt road it is the only way to visit the VLA. I doubt we saw more than a couple of cars on our way here. I felt like I was in an episode of the Twilight Zone going someplace otherworldly. As we approached we could see the 27 radio telescopes pointed skyward, they appeared small to me until we pulled into the parking lot. They are not small; the antennas are 83 feet in diameter and weight 230 tons. The site was quiet, only an occasional truck with workers passed us as we walked along the public access area. As the sun began to set the telescopes moved and changed the direction they were pointed. The sky turned red, the telescopes glowed, and it was breathtaking. The visitor center showed very interesting videos. The gift shop was closed for a one day remodel the day we went, but peeking in they had many interesting things to buy. The bathrooms were clean. The center was warm which made me happy, because it was verrry cold outside. read more

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We can't make it up on a Saturday for the guided tours (1st and 3rd Saturdays) because of work schedules. But we did do the self walking tour. With all the informative signs located along the way you get a ton of info. Plus you get to stand about as close to under one as possible! Start inside in the visitor center. There's a LOT of info and video available...including the 25 minute documentary narrated by Jody Foster.The gift shop is full of great items from t-shirts to cups and Christmas ornaments. I think I spent about $45 and got more than I needed. If you think you are gonna show up and see the dishes all bunched together like they are in the movies, you will be disappointed. They are spread out over 100s of miles of railroad track. But they are still impressive and every so often you can watch one of them tilt very slowly toward something in the sky. The VLA address says Socorro, New Mexico but it is located 50 miles west of Socorro. The GPS coordinates are 34 04'43.497N, 107 37'05.819W The drive feels like you are driving out in the middle of nowhere. And you are. This site covers something like 100 square miles. You will start seeing the dishes pop up in the middle of the desert long before you get to the visitor center. read more

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On open house day, I had a reservation for 2pm. It wasn't enough time to do much other than a self guided tour and the gift shop. There's 2 buildings to see as well so get there early because you'll probably need 3 hours. I appreciated the food and coffee trailers after the long drive there. A science staff member gave the tour to about 50 people in each group. Being a guide or speaker was not his skill set. He spoke softly answering one guy's questions while the group followed and heard nothing upon arrival to each point of interest. A lot of people stated their frustration and decided to do a self guided tour instead. Most staff were kind and knowledgeable. There was an older gray haired woman driving a Kawasaki mule that was loud, rude, and obnoxious. I could tell other staff are annoyed by her belligerence. At 3:15pm, she was at the food and medic station and yells, "ok! It's time to get these people the hell out of here. We are closing," and started telling folks to leave 40 minutes before close as she drove maniacally. Unfortunately, my recollection of this idiot will stain my memory. read more

You remember the movie, Contact with Jodie Foster? Well both me and the husband decided to go today..... at first far away it didn't quite look like what we saw in the movie where they were all together... there's a reason for that.... they can be moved to different locations and depending on what angle you look at them.... Oh my were they ever unique and huge.... So the price to get in is between $4-$6/person depending on age and military id... it's a self-guided walking tour... which I didn't mind plus they do have a 20-minute film which is narrated by Jodie Foster... very informative... I don't want to give too much away as you just need to experience it yourself... if you ever wondered about it, then hop in your vehicle and get on over and check it out..... read more

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The Very Large Array is a world-class data gathering facility maintained by the national science foundation. The data gathered here is crucial to our understanding of the Cosmos. This truly spectacular facility is sited on the Plains of St. Augustine just west of Socorro, New Mexico. Elev ~ 7,000 feet. read more

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If you go, bring a non-electronic camera or you won't get great shots! Other than that, wow, this is a must-see!

Our mobile personal electromagnetic-wave detectors (i.e. our eyes) see a sky of peace & chill, but our eyes only see a teeny tiny section (400-800nanometer waves) of the big picture. There are tons of other waves invisible to us. And when you get to big waves (a few millimeters to many kilometers), these waves paint the night sky as a head-banging, violent, and vibrant show of activity. This is the type of show the Very Large Array (VLA) has front row seats to 24 hours a day. In the dry, desolate, and beautiful desert of New Mexico sits the VLA. The Goliath 27 antennas which make up the VLA sit in big triangular formation. All the antennas sit atop a train car like structure, and each antenna can be moved along a "train" track to reconfigure the antenna. So, what you have here is a huge zoom radio lens. When the antennas are spread out the farthest (arms are ~13miles long), you are zoomed in to a section of sky & have a high resolution and can see intimate details of what you're looking at. When the antennas are bunched up together, you are in a "wide lens" setting and can see a much bigger picture of the sky. Enough technicality, it's just cool. The VLA is a cool engineering feat to just drive by and see. And if you are in the area, you have to check out the Visitor Center and take a self-guided tour of the facility. The Visitor Center has many exhibits about radio astronomy, the VLA, and some of their observations. There is also a theater which plays a short film about the site. My favorite part of the Visitor Center was the gift shop. Whether you want a nerdy and cool T-shirt, or a "Very Large Shot" glass, you will have tons of cool gift options here. The staff were also very nice and friendly. It seems like the exhibits are a bit dated, but this place has been around for a while, and I wondered about how much traffic they got here---I was the only visitor the entire time I was here. Now, you should also take tour. They have guided tours on the first Saturday of each month, but if you can't make that, you can also take a self-guided tour. I took the latter, and was under a time constraint, but I was able to walk to a few outdoor exhibits, walk very close to one of the antennas, and then walk around the Control Room Building. One thing I regretted not seeing, was the beautiful canyon next to the VLA---y'know, the one Jodie Foster's character sat near with the huge antenna's in the background. If you are looking for the same canyon---tough luck! That was all CGI-ed in there! Yup, in the movie Contact, they imported the breathtaking Canyon de Chelly from Arizona to help spice up the scenery (read my review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/canyon-de-chelly-national-monument-chinle#hrid:5NjqvBuX1wQ1EpPLv0oEtw). But it's ok, the VLA will take your breath away scientifically. [Google Map note: The location of this place must be for an office in Socorro, and not the actual observatory in the desert an hour west.] read more

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The VLA is a very unique place to visit as part of a larger road trip. The isolated desert locale - specifically chosen to minimize radio frequency interference - is perfect for reflecting on the mysteries of the universe. As you approach the valley, cellular service becomes non-existent, but you will be able to spot the visitor center and follow signs to get there. A self-guided tour begins in the visitors center and takes you out past the antennas. Be mindful of rattlesnakes. Try to arrive on the first saturday of the month for special guided tours. Check the website www.vla.nrao.edu and consider calling in advance of your visit to get accurate information. Plan to arrive before 3pm to allow time to really take the place in, browse the gift-shop and have time to drive to your next destination before dark. read more

The Very Large Array Visitor Center - Station 11 of self-guided tour. - Visitor Centers Near Me - Magdalena, New Mexico

Hip hip Array! This place is so much fun, totally taps into your inner child. This is what I like to think as this country's effort, efforts way beyond our borders, our world, even our solar system.. made me feel happy. I was fortunate that the arry did a big 90° turn while i was stading there. The gift shop & expo could definitly use a update. The road to or from phoenix is gorgeous.. great for an outing. read more

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If you are a science nerd then this place is definitely worth a visit. Took my son here while we were on a road trip through New Mexico. Fascinating to learn about how the array works. A small film, narrated by Jodie Foster, is shown throughout the day at the visitor center and explains more about what they do here. Walking tours are always available, but the first Saturday of every month there are free guided tours which are very informative. There is also no admission charge on these days. You will learn how they use this system to monitor space, how they connect the array, tour the control room and get an up close view directly next to one of the dishes. There are scientists positioned throughout the property that are more than happy to answer questions and explain how things work. If you plan on visiting the VLA and you don't live in the area, plan on booking a hotel in Socorro. It's the closest city that you can stay in and has variety of places to choose from. If you really want the biggest bang for your buck, plan in advance and you can hit both the VLA and the Trinity Test Site both on the same day - but only on the first Saturday of April and October each year. There is a gift shop here that accepts credit cards and has a lot of cool stuff for purchase. They also sell bottles water and soft drinks (some days out here it can get really hot). read more

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Super cool and nerdy! Definitely recommend you get there at least half an hour prior to a scheduled tour. The website says they do tours on the first Saturday of each month and we were there for the first one at 1100. The tours guides are very knowledgeable about the array and the mission and can answer some very scientific questions about the mission and even more. To work there you have to be a STEM graduate, but it was apparent many of the guides have diverse backgrounds. One thing I will say is that the gift shop has a lot of nice things the sale of which I presume help keep the location running. The gift shop is open seven days a week even though guided tours are my featured so often. Expect to be out in the sun and the wind... but pack for changes in the weather! The day we went the skies were very overcast and the temperatures were in the low 70s (crazy July weather!). Bring a camera because they discourage the use of cell phones. Also, your Fitbit and other blue tooth devices interrupt their data collection efforts but they offer little bags to place them into for no charge. Yes, I would recommend making the 60 minute drive west of I25 to the VLA. read more

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This is something if you are anywhere near the Socorro area you should check out. Even just to say you've been there. The arrays themselves are very impressive. The drive out to them is equally impressive. The road leading you there is surrounded by wide, open plains where you will very likely catch sight of some pronghorns. Unfortunately on our visit the visitor center was closed for the week. They did still have a self-guided, walking tour available. Basically you follow a little trail from place to place and read about the facility. My suggestion is to go out there when you can watch the sun set. You will snap some AMAZING pictures. We also got a real kick out of just sitting in the middle of the road. The road, which is 26 miles long, is open and flat. We could see from one side to the other and for minutes on end not a single car in sight. We must have taken pictures in the road for 20 minutes and not one car went by. Keep this in mind as you travel; be careful, if you break down out there you'll be on your own. Make sure you cell has coverage out there as it really is the middle of nowhere! read more

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A unique place to see in New Mexico. Check it off your bucket list. read more

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If you appreciate science, space, engineering, or just the amazing things we humans can dream up and build, the VLA is a must stop. The 27 massive telescopes can be seen from miles away, sitting in the middle of a vast plain surrounded by mountains. It's a desolate spot, and once you arrive at the site, it's likely to be desolate as well, you'll be lucky to see any people there. Which is awesome. A great visitor center awaits with tons of facts and info, and the self-guided walking tour is equally informative, plus you'll be able to stand next to one of the giant telescopes. If you're lucky like we were this day, you'll get a chance to see them move and reposition themselves. Otherwise, just enjoy their grandeur and the slight hum emanating from them as they peer into the sky. (As an added bonus, if you have a few hours to spare, drive to the top of Mt. Withington and hike to the ranger station for a great view of the VLA.) read more

The Very Large Array Visitor Center - Early summer morning at the VLA. - Visitor Centers Near Me - Magdalena, New Mexico

OUR SECOND AMAZING STOP: After Pie Town we headed for the Very Large Array. I love the name; it's so "cut to the chase." I've been fascinated by this thing ever since I saw the movie "Contact" which was filmed there in part. You can see it from a distance though it takes an up-close and personal visit to really appreciate the magnitude of the thing. Even from the parking lot at the visitors center you don't really get it. Once inside the visitors center you can watch a nine minute movie that tells you all about the array. It's fascinating. Even though they tell you how it works it's still hard for me to get my mind around what the thing does. But it is seriously cool. There are also some displays which deal with the science that is done at the facility, though we hurried through because we needed to get moving. And we wanted to walk out to the array itself. There are twenty-seven satellite dishes on three axes which form a Y. One of them is available for viewing. Each dish is the size of a baseball diamond and the first time we saw it move I jumped. It's very weird and weirdly silent. They work in concert to act like one gargantu-mongus satellite dish and, using it that way, they can see into deep space. You know what, I can't do it justice. Just go see it, it's awesome. And stop at Pie Town on the way! read more

Epic! We attended one of the Saturday tours (1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month). We had a good size group and three very helpful tour guides representing different experience and expertise. The tour was more fun than watching a film, and being in the presence of 209 ton radio telescopes is fairly awe-inspiring. This whole facility runs for ~$15M per year, and it's very exciting to know that anyone who submits a proposal with scientific merit can get observation data. read more

Really wondrous place, out of the way from most of civilization. The cell signals interfere with the radio telescopes, so if you even get a stray signal from a distant cell tower, they will instruct you not to use your cell phone. The drive was tedious and kind of boring, but once there, plenty to do and explore. Fascinating subject matter and the guide for our tour was a researcher at the VLA, so he gave the inside story. Museum is free but tour is not, cost is nominal. Come early and explore the outside exhibits including the clock and the repair bay for the telecopes. Tour includes walk through control room. read more

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As always, I'm thankful that such a visitor center exists, to explain what the heck is going on and to allow you to get close to an antennae. Inside the visitor center is an excellent film about the VLA- definitely check it out if you visit. Outside the visitor center is an interpretive path with several excellent interpretive panels and an opportunity to stand next to an antennae. As an added bonus, you can take your dogs on the interpretive path as well. The museum/science center inside the visitor center is a bit small. They do the best they can do with the limited space, but if it's busy, it's fairly inconvenient to read the displays. You have to watch where you step so you don't step into someone else's way, then you have to crane your neck in weird directions so you can still read the panels. It can be a bit awkward. They offer a guided tour on the weekends. The guide wasn't very polished, but it did cover information not found on the self-guided walk. Plus the tour accompanies the guide into the control building, where you visit with a real live operator! wooo hooo! (I think the science types appreciated this more than I did). In sum, if you visit, be sure to watch the film and walk the self-guided interpretive trail. read more

My kids are all about Space, Aliens, UFO's, Star Trek, and Star Wars. Therefore, they were so excited when they heard we were going out to the American Southwest. That meant that I routed us through Roswell (aka: UFO Central), and Once we left we headed down out of the mountains for the valley where the satellite dishes of the Very Large Array are moved around to better peer deep into space. As we descended into the valley, we saw what appeared to be small specks scattered about. The closer we got, the larger they got. Finally, when we approached the actual entrance to the site, we realized these dishes are GINORMOUS!! What makes them even more amazing is that they move around on what can only be described as the world's largest train track set. Once we got on-site, as no one was at hand we took our own informal grand tour, until we finally found someone who could better tell us about what this facility actually did. For the next day, all the boys could talk about was the VLA. Once we got home, it was clear that the visit to the VLA was one of, if not the single high point of the entire trip. read more

Nothing else that is fit for an audience of all ages uses its size to describe itself nearly as well as the Very Large Array. It could just have been the Really Nice Expanse or the Fancy Field of Radio Telescopes, but those just would not have fit. Route 60, which goes from nowhere to nowhere else, cuts right past the large array. As you near the visitor's center you are warned to turn off all your mobile devices as an individual liking Scott Baio of Facebook could fool the telescopes into thinking there is a second black hole in the galaxy that we are rushing towards, and we will all die. There is a free self guided tour and small welcome center. It is definitely worth the stop to see where 27 antennas scan for radio waves that can literally see back millions of years. If you are in southern New Mexico and are faced with the choice of either visiting the VLA or Roswell that would be great because it would help people determine if your are an idiot. Choose wisely. read more

If you are into science, space or generally consider yourself a geek/nerd, then you absolutely must come here. Let me be clear -- the Very Large Array is a good distance away from any main road or interstate. Be sure to allow an hour just for driving if you're coming from I-25. That being said, the scenic views leading up to the Array are worth the drive. New Mexico is a gorgeous state -- this trip is no exception. Once you arrive at the Very Large Array, the tour around the satellite dishes is pretty much self-guided. You simply can not grasp how large the dishes are until you see them up close. WOW! Block out an afternoon and come here. You owe it to yourself. read more

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Educational for the whole family. I enjoyed my drive here very peaceful and beautiful only thing is there's no cell phone service for about 50 miles for this place. It's perfect to have someone peace and quiet from devices! read more

This is an incredible place to visit for the science that is being done here, the engineering marvel that is the telescope itself, and the sheer beauty of these huge dishes in the middle of the NM plains! read more

Summary based on one several hour visit, including tour: --unique resource --long drive, but ultimately worth it --helps if you watch the video before the tour and have some science background --self guided walking tour worth it, even if it's hot --free parking, generally easy when not yet crowded read more