VLA’s Miles of Old Tracks

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VLA’s Miles of Old Tracks

Over 80 miles of train track, re-purposed from old, discontinued rail lines around the United States, allow the Very Large Array to be reconfigured. Throughout the year, the antennas are carried on the backs of one of two Transporters and hauled along these tracks to a new powered pad. Changing the size of the array changes how much detail it can see.

Credit: T. Burchell, NRAO/AUI/NSF

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