NRAO Very Large Array

My recent visit to the Very Large Array (VLA) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) was GREAT! The crew provided an engaging and informative guided tour that made the whole experience enjoyable, even if it was short. Their passion for astronomy and dedication to sharing knowledge really shone through. The facilities are impressive, and being so close to these giant radio telescopes is awe-inspiring. You can feel the connection to the cosmos just standing there. One suggestion I have is regarding the ticketing process. It operates on an honor system, which is great. However, after paying for four tickets, I wasn't entirely sure if everyone in my group had contributed. I believe this place is worth every penny and then some, so I hope everyone is stepping up to support such an amazing institution. Overall, I highly recommend visiting the VLA. It's not just a tour; it's an experience that leaves you with a deeper appreciation for the universe!

I anticipated this place to be cool but was a bit wary as we weren’t going on an open house day and I wasn’t sure how much info we would get. For $10 a person it is well worth the visit! You can pay at their kiosk or in the visitor center. Also they have a penny machine if you’re into that with 4 design options! There is a nice 10-15 minute film when you first get there to give you some insight. Then aside from displays inside and a nice gift shop, there is a self guided walking tour with a brochure. It had some hands on stuff to do which was great for interpretation. We also got to see the arrays move a couple of times during our visit which was cool to see! All of the workers knew their stuff and were very friendly.

Cannot say enough about how awesome it is to visit the VLA, whether it's for the science, the learning or the beauty of the location. Strongly advise to plan a trip at one of the open house event days (usually Saturday in April & October). The staff is absolutely wonderfull at giving guided tours explaining how and why everything works while answering all your questions. This was my second visit since becoming a member (not required but it has benefits well worth your while and helps further education efforts). Please visit the very one of a kind gift shop - shirts, caps, mugs and so much more. Already planning for the next ones!

I really enjoyed my visit here to see the antenna array. I was a little disappointed that the only thing to really see in their visitors center was a video narrated by Jodi Foster. I wish they would have had actual displays explaining what they have discovered and talking more about the science aspect. They do offer a guided tour, but I ended up taking the self guided which I enjoyed. Overall seeing the satellite dishes up close was the highlight for me from the whole visit. I ended up driving around the facility from the highway and stopped along the way to take pictures which was a lot of fun on its own.

For science and astronomy buffs this is a must visit/bucket list location. I was staying in ABQ and made the scenic two hour drive down. The topography is icing on the nerd cake. My visit was solo and the weather was perfect. Large moisture filled clouds cast the most amazing shadows on the giant lake bed in which the VLA lies. There was enough wind to have the sounds of the planets piece sing. Most importantly, regardless of the configuration, one dish is always close to the main buildings/visitor center area.

This is one of the coolest things you will ever see of you are a sci-fi movie fan. If you love space this is your Mecca! I first came to Socorro in 2003 for bomb training at EMRTC, I've wanted to come see the VLA since I was a teenager, well I finally made it and amazing. Definitely make the effort to see it!!

This place is incredibly vast, and I think it’s a must-visit for anyone who loves astronomy, anyone who enjoyed The Three-Body Problem, or anyone who has ever stared into the night sky wondering whether another civilization might exist. Here you’ll see the Very Large Array — dozens of huge, movable radio telescopes spread across the desert. They really do move, and up close they look almost like gigantic radars, perfectly aligned across the landscape. Standing there, you genuinely feel how small humanity is. These enormous, synchronized dishes make you appreciate the scale of the universe and the effort we humans put into pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and searching for life beyond Earth. Absolutely worth visiting.

We went on the twice a year free entry day. There were scores of visitors. The tour guides were very informative. I've driven past the site a dozen times but finally got to get close to the amazing structures and learn about the mission. A thunderstorm cut our visit short, so we plan on returning on a regular day. It's only $10, and we would love to see it when it's not crowded and we can take our time.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

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!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.....

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.]

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.

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!

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.

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.)

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.

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!

Surprised my adult son with a trip here on our way back from visiting family in Albuquerque, NM. What a thrill!!! On our way out we stopped to take pictures and the array had changed direction!!! So informative and interesting!!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

Very unique site. Great informative film about the research done at the VLA. Fascinating, and beautiful to look at the largest radio wave telescope in the world. I remember several movies that were filmed at this location incouding Contact. Always wanted to know about the research being done here and it certainly exceeded my expectations.,

The guided tour offered only on first Saturday of the month is not worth taking. The guide adds nothing for a person even vaguely familiar with the function of the array. The self guided tour is not much better. The folder has only questions. The answers on the placards at the tour stops do not contain much information for a person even vaguely familiar with the function of the array. Seeing the array telescopes up close is possible and well worth the trip. My rating is an average of 5 for what I could see at the site and 0 for the tours.

Visited during open house with two friends. Since we had Gus with us (my cattle dog), the friends went on the tour and I opted for the self guided walking tour. Only, I had a guide. A nice man in a cowboy hat and with a bit of ginger in his white beard came out of the visitors center to get a breath of air. Me being me, I went right up and introduced myself and we became instant friends. He has been working at the VLA for a couple of years - he started his project in 1967. I asked him if it would be completed any time soon and he said no. We agreed this is the UNIVERSE we were talking about, and he is in it for the long game. His area of expertise is interstellar matter, which blew my mind to pieces. He helped me understand how to use the new sundial (hint: it does way more than tell the time), and advised me on how to be happily married for 51 years, and agreed with me that coyotes are pretty cool. People ask him if he has been on TV, and he has - on the original Cosmos with Carl Sagan. In case you are thinking you won't have this sort of encounter when you visit the VLA, think again! Walk up to people, listen to their stories, get them talking, then sit back and enjoy the afternoon. I live for these chance meetings, and this one was among the best.

We didn't go during the daytime but at night. Of course you cannot get too close to the visitor center or you will arise the attention of security, as was the case with us. Visiting at night was truly amazing because the sky turning amazing colors and then fading into darkness truly captures the beauty of the arrays. There is an eerie silence that is somehow peaceful and you can almost feel the energy in the air. Before we went, we watched the Jodie Foster film, 'Contact' which made the experience even more great. I plan to come back and visit the visitor center. Truly amazing!

Very much worth the quick straight-shot drive out from Socorro. The quick movie in the visitor center is very informative, especially for being only nine minutes long. Though you can see the dishes for miles, getting up close is totally different. Really cool stuff. It can be super windy, so bundle up and hang out until you get a chance to see the dishes move. They're really stealthy and quiet when they do.

First things first. What's with that address? The VLA is 50 miles west of Socorro. Go to their website. http://www.vla.nrao.edu/genpub/tours/ This place is really great. They keep one of their massive telescopes stationary so as to allow visitors to check it out. The others are able to be moved on train tracks miles and miles apart to change the focus. Got to see some Antelope on the grounds as a bonus. The self guided tour is pretty basic, but there is plenty of in depth info inside the visitors center. Definitely off the track a bit, but well worth it.

Science is awesome! Amazing technology on a stunning landscape. They were out of the self-guided tour pamphlet but it didn't matter since the interpretive signage was so well done. It's inspiring to see science at such a scale and so close. Antelopes!

My wife and I are big sci-fi nerds, so the 60 mile drive from Socorro was worth the trip. We were giddy with excitement as we saw the VLA from far away. The walking tour was informative and not boring, and not too long. Good for anyone to do. Also good for stretching out the legs after the long drive to get there. The pictures/displays weren't too long or over-informative. The gift shop had really cool shirts and other gifts, yet wasn't flooded with too much "crap". We would definitely go back here again!

First read about the LVA, if your curiosity is sparked, go for it! The journey over the 2 lane gently winding highway on Rt 60 outside of Socorro which passes the tiny town of Magdalena, worth a stop for a pop, is an easy drive. Seeing the 27 antennas stretched across the plains is the payoff. I skipped the Visitors Center and opted to take the unimproved Rt 52 South passing by a giant 83 foot communicator pointing skyward. I communed with the wide open rolling hills of the St. Augustine plains surrounded by the San Mateos and Black Range mountains and boulders the size of dump trucks making my way in some ways back to a time of covered wagons avoiding the pitfalls of arroyos, washouts, and an occasional "wild" animal; herd of startled antelope, coyote, and a pair of fierce looking grazing cattle with the largest black eyes I ever saw! I began to appreciate the sites of a far off rooftop announcing some form of civilization (in case I had to walk some way out). It also brought to mind the struggles of my people who came across from Missouri in wagon trains 150 + years ago.

The VLA telescope is truly a one-of-a-kind sight. the road to the facility is so straight you could tie a rope to your steering wheel and put a brick on the accelerator and just take a nap till you get there. It's about 50 miles from Socorro, NM and it's an easy drive. So much big sky that we saw multiple rainstorms off in the distance during our drive. The telescope itself is both larger than life and very down to earth. The telescopes are visible for miles before you reach them. Maybe because I've seen them in some movies and many pics, they are iconic and you kind of want to be quiet around them. The visitor center has no employees and the gift shop was closed because we got there after 4pm. So, it was just my wife and I walking around the site. We did see an employee behind glass, but otherwise, the place was deserted. We saw one other family while we were there. I think because it's off the beaten track and there are no talking animals, it's not overrun with people to see it. There is a self-guided walking / driving tour of the facility that we enjoyed. I especially like walking by the old computer room filled with racks and racks of formerly flashing lights, that probably has been replace by a macbook pro or something like that. One of the signs says that the VLA telescope is used 24/7/365, but the place is just quiet with the occasional hum of motors as the telescopes imperceptibly move to follow their celestial targets. We hadn't set out to visit the VLA on our trip around NM and I'm glad we went.

Wonderful place to visit. It was everything I expected and more. The staff was super friendly - I couldnt have asked for anything more. Well worth the trip from Michigan.

The VLA web site touted guided tours at 11:00, 1:00 & 3:00 on the first Saturday of each month, so we took our Australian visitors down from Albuquerque. Dozens of visitors waited, but no guide bothered to show up at 1 or 3 - nor did we find anyone else working there. The gift shop was closed. A sign said a 24-minute movie explaining the VLA was in progress, wait until the red light by the door went out and go inside for the next showing. We waited, went inside, the movie audio eventually started but the projector was broken, so there was no video. The place appeared to be completely abandoned except for the many visitors. The site said "The First Saturday Tour event culminates in an evening of FREE Guided Night Sky Telescope Viewing at the Etscorn Observatory" in Socorro, so we waited in town until dark and then headed to the observatory, only to find it was completely closed. Only a handful of visitors showed up, no staff. VLA was a big disappointment due to staff that failed to show up for the many visitors.