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Observatories and Instruments

Very Large Array

Also Known As VLA
Ground-Based Radio and Millimeter Observatories

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Very Large Array

A radio astronomy observatory in New Mexico consisting of 27 movable dish antennas that combine their signals to act as a single large radio telescope, used for research from black holes to the search for extraterrestrial radio signals.

Facts
Observatory Type
Ground-based radio observatory 1
Location
Socorro County, New Mexico, United States 1
Operational
from 1980 1
Measures
Centimeter-wavelength radio waves 2
Operating Principle
Aperture-synthesis interferometry: the signals from its movable dish antennas are combined so the array acts as a single antenna of variable diameter 2
Sources
1. Encyclopedia Britannica: Space Exploration
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.View the Source
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationVery Large Array, introductory section
Quote, Very Large Array, introductory section
The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) is a centimeter-wavelength radio astronomy observatory in the southwestern United States built in the 1970s.
View the Source
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationVery Large Array, Characteristics section
Quote, Very Large Array, Characteristics section
the antennas can be physically relocated to a number of prepared positions, allowing aperture synthesis interferometry with up to 351 independent baselines: in essence, the array acts as a single antenna with a variable diameter.
View the Source
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