Astronomy:

Visiting The Great Observatories

VLA, New Mexico

On the Plains of San Agustin, about 50 miles (80 km) west of Socorro in western New Mexico, sits a truly unique site. The 27 big white dishes of the Very Large Array stretch over 20 miles (40 km) across the desert valley floor. These linked dishes become the world's largest radio telescope - listening and probing deep into the universe. The first distant views seem surreal; how can all those spots be giant antennas (each 25 meters in diameter)? If you've seen the 1997 film "Contact," then you have some feel for just how mind-bogglingly huge the VLA really is. It seems like pure mechanical magic when the muted whine begins, and the whole orchestrated mass gently slews to face a new target. It seems like a long way off Interstate Highway 25, but don't miss what must be a modern wonder of the world. Oh, look right and check out the tile: they even have planets, galaxies and dishes in the gentlemen's restroom!