VLA Guided Tour Reservation Form – National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Group tours are available for education and special interest groups of 10 or more people.

To request a group tour of the VLA (in-person or virtual tour) or classroom visit (in-person or virtual) please fill out the form below.

Requests must be received three weeks in advance of your desired date.

Contact our Education and Public Outreach office at visitVLA@nrao.edu if you have any questions.

Contact Information:

Contact Person First and Last Name (required)

Contact Email (required)

Contact Phone (required)

Group Information:

Group/Organization Name (required)

Group/Organization Address, City, State, and Country (required)

Tour Information:

Date of Tour Requested (required)

Number of Students/Attendees: (required)

Student Age Range:

Number of Chaperones/Group Leaders: (required)
We require 1 chaperone for every 10 students.

Arrival Date and Time at VLA Visitor Center:

Estimated Departure Time from VLA:

Will your group be traveling to the VLA in a single large vehicle (van or bus), multiple personal vehicles, or both?:
Single Large VehicleMultiple Personal VehiclesBoth
Additional Travel Details (if needed):

Additional Information:

Objectives, goals, area of study, and/or pre-VLA Tour preparation your group will participate in:

Any Special Needs for your Group:

NOTE:
The VLA is at an elevation of 7,000 feet; visitors should prepare for extreme weather conditions year round. The path for the self-guided walking tour is level and approximately 0.5 miles in length, half of which is unpaved gravel. There is NO food service at the site, but there are two shaded, outdoor picnic areas for visitor use.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
The use of cell phones and personal electronic devices (Fitbits, smart watches, etc.) while at the VLA is strictly prohibited. All electronic devices, whether on your person or in your vehicle, must be turned OFF for the duration of your visit. Digital and film cameras are allowed and visitors may photograph anything they wish in the Visitor Center and along the designated walking tour path.

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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..."
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