In this aerial shot over the Very Large Array in New Mexico, nearly the entire array is in view. In this most compact configuration, the Y-shape of the VLA’s tracks is easily seen. We refer to it as the “Wye.”
Roller bearings of a VLA telescope
These roller bearings sit inside the spin gear of every antenna in the Very Large Array (VLA). They support the giant dish and allow it to spin around, but over time, they seize up from flattening or lack of grease. They are replaced or greased while the antenna is split in half inside the Antenna Assembly Building.
Double Rainbow over the VLA
The Very Large Array may sit in the New Mexico desert, but it’s not always dry. Summer monsoons bring much-needed rains, and this lovely afternoon also brought a double rainbow.
Picture Perfect VLA
A gorgeous day in central New Mexico gives a photographer this stunning shot of the Very Large Array in its most compact configuration.
Oxygen Required
Oxygen is required for any staff member spending long periods of time working on ALMA’s supercomputer. The supercomputer is housed close to the telescopes site which sits at an elevation of 16,500 feet in the Chilean Andes.
ALMA’s Supercomputer
The four-quadrant ALMA Correlator inside the Array Operations Site Technical Building at 16,500 feet elevation in northern Chile. This supercomputer can process 17 quadrillion operations every second.