Socorro, New Mexico: The Very Large Array (VLA) (In Transition)
RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
- Address:
- Old Hwy 60, Socorro, NM
- Directions:
- I-25 exits 147 or 150 for Socorro, then west on US Hwy 60 about 47 miles. On the south side of the highway. Follow the signs from Hwy 60; it's another few miles before you get to the Visitor Center.
- Hours:
- June 2022: VLA temporarily closed to public due to Covid. (Call to verify)
- Phone:
- 575-835-7243
- Status:
- In Transition
-
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When infomercials arrive from another galaxy, the Very Large Array will hear them first. Its 27 giant dishes pivot in unison as they track noise from distant space.
Roadsideamerica.com Report... [07/03/2011]Visitor Tips and News About The Very Large Array (VLA)
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
Currently closed due to COVID, with no timetable on when it will be open to the public again. I called the gift shop and a voicemail says it's closed. Bummer.
[LouieLandAdventures, 06/25/2022]
Some of the most beautiful landscape you will see. The VLA has a history of searching for E.T. But they do an amazing number of other research projects. Highly recommend going to the visitor center and also doing the walking tour.
Bonus: camp out in this area for an amazing night sky!
[Mike Larson, 03/05/2018]
The VLA gets its heaviest visitor day on the same day as the Trinity Site open house day, and has extra staff on hand for it. A guide at the road makes sure you put your mobile devices in airplane mode.
[tenkism, 04/07/2014]
Worth visiting if you are anywhere near. The Very Large Array is an impressive collection which many will recognize from the movie Contact. Along US 60 is a parking area where you can get some pictures, but if you really want to see it up close, drive the four miles back to the visitor center. From there, you can watch a 9 minute video, then take a 20-minute self-guided walk. The walk has many informational posts and the opportunity to walk up to one of the antennas.
If you are lucky, you will be there when the whole array makes a move and all of the antenna move in unison to a new position.
[Sequoyah, 04/23/2011]Page of 2 [Next 3 items]
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