Photo – Page 41 – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Train skills required for laying the VLA tracks

With over 80 miles of track to keep in service, the Very Large Array needs the skills of a railway crew. Here, the gravel ballast is combed around the rails.

Inside an azimuth bearing of a VLA telescope

Over time, the azimuth bearing of a Very Large Array antenna needs cleaning out and repairing. Here, technicians work inside the base of a separated antenna to remove worn rollers. The upper, dish half of the antenna is braced on the dark platform at far left where another technician inspects it for wear and tear.

On top of VLA antenna

Engineers are required to wear safety harnesses when performing routine inspections on the VLA’s telescopes. Here we see an engineer attached to the antenna’s feed.

Routine Maintenance at 82-feet

A fear of heights is not an option if you work on the engineering team at the Very Large Array. Here, an engineer rides a forklift 82 feet to the top of a VLA antenna feed for a routine inspection.

VLA’s Vibrant skies at dusk

Low clouds create a colorful sunset at the Very Large Array in New Mexico. A touch of blue sky is visible through the bottom of the red and orange clouds at dusk.

Education and the VLA

Judy Stanley, the Public Education Officer for the Very Large Array, stands on one of the 25-meter dishes. She develops and delivers tours of the VLA, creates STEM education program, and hosts events for the observatory in New Mexico.

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.
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