Visiting the Very Large Array

Tours and Events

Sylvia Kowalski, VLA Operator

Open House

Our 2023 Fall Open House will take place on Saturday, October 21, 2023. Reserve your tickets HERE.

The VLA normally hosts two open houses a year – one in October and one in April. Open House events are free but require advance timed-entry admission. The day includes free tours and talks by NRAO staff and opportunities to meet and speak with VLA operations personnel. Additional NRAO staff are on-hand throughout the day answer your burning questions about anything and everything. Please check our calendar of events for details.

First and Third Saturday Guided Tours

The VLA hosts three guided tours on the first and third Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Guided tours require no reservations in addition to your advance admission purchase. Simply show up at the VLA Visitor Center 30 minutes before the desired tour time. These guided tours last about one hour and give visitors unique insight into the past, present, and future of the VLA. Staff and VLA Volunteers are on hand to answer questions.

Group Tours

For education and special interest groups of 10 or more individuals, we provide private guided tours when possible. We require at least three weeks’ notice to arrange a guided tour. To request a guided tour for your group, please fill out this Guided Tour Reservation form:

VLA Tour Reservation Form

Feel free to contact our Education and Public Outreach office at visitVLA@nrao.edu or 505-515-5780 if you have any additional questions.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the 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 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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