VLA antennas
Dishless VLA Antenna

Dishless Antenna at the VLA

During construction in the 1970s, one of the first antenna bases of the Very Large Array sits without a dish in the Antenna Assembly Building.

VLA Antenna assembly

Antenna Assembly at the VLA

The 28 antennas of the Very Large Array were assembled inside a large building in the middle of the New Mexico desert. In this photo, the base with its azimuth gear are in place, but the altitude gear has not been attached. It is the toothy ring sitting on the floor in the back.

VLA Antennas with air traffic lights

Aircraft Lights Atop the VLA

In the early days of the Very Large Array, each 25-meter antenna had an aircraft warning light set atop its feed.

VLA Antenna at sunset
VLA Antenna and cattle

Watch for Cattle at the VLA

The plains of San Agustin were once home to the famous Cattle Drives of the 1800s. Local farmers have permission to use the lands of the Very Large Array for grazing.