The VLA (very large array), Continental Divide

The VLA are a set of 28 huge radio telescopes that form the world’s largest radio telescope observatory, built to monitor radio waves from objects in outer space.  The observatory’s location in the remote New Mexico desert was chosen because its distance from large towns and the mountain ranges that surround it prevents any major radio interference.  The huge telescopes, resembling massive TV satellite dishes, work in tandem, gathering and comparing data rapidly.

Scientists here probe the universe’s mysteries by examining radio waves and have observed many awe-inspiring phenomena.  They’ve tracked the electromagnetic movements of galaxies, the remnants of ancient supernovas, the cosmic matter ejected by the collapse of a supermassive black hole, and even the faint glow of radiation left over from the Big Bang.

Although the mysteries of outer-space radio waves are perhaps beyond the grasp of non-specialists, if you come here at night when the moon is new and the sky is clear, you can share in some of the wonders the VLA reveals.  This remote location is perfect for stargazing, and from deep in the desert, you can look up at the universe and witness all the majesty of the heavens with your naked eye.