What You’ll See

The Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is open every day from 9am – 4pm. You are free to explore our exhibits, where you will learn more about radio astronomy and the role the Very Large Array and other NRAO telescopes play in current research. You can also view several short videos that explain more about what happens at the VLA, how it works and how we move the antennas. In the auditorium is a 23-minute documentary, produced in 2013 and narrated by Jodie Foster. The documentary is an overview of radio astronomy, interferometry, and the VLA itself.

Outdoor Walking Tour

Our self-guided walking tour will take you to our Radio Sundial, past our Whisper Dish Gallery, on to our Radio Astronomy Gallery, and finally to the base of one of the 230-ton working antennas on the array! From there, you will head toward the control building’s outside staircase to the observation deck for a view of the array itself, and will learn details about the supercomputer processing taking place inside the control building. The walk returns you to the Visitor Center where you are welcome to browse through our Gift Shop for unique souvenirs.

Please note: the path for the self-guided walking tour is level and approximately 0.5 miles in length, half of which is unpaved gravel.

Feel free to download our walking tour brochure for more information and a map.

Gift Shop

At our Visitor Center Gift Shop, you’ll find a universe of astronomy and science-themed apparel, gifts, and souvenirs for all ages. We stock a variety of logo memorabilia as well as clothing, books, posters, note cards, DVDs, and more. From “Very Large” mugs to “Hip Hip Array” hats to “With All These Dishes…” aprons, we have something for everyone.

The Gift Shop is currently open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the following exceptions: we are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve Day.

If you have questions, you may reach the Gift Shop at 575-835-7410 during regular business hours.

Configurations

What configuration is the VLA in?
Find out here

Webcam

Want to preview the VLA?

Check out our live webcam.

Live
Webcam

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
	The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."
	AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.