Very Large Array
The named Karl Jansky Very Large Array G. ( JVLA ), formerly only Very Large Array (VLA ) is an interferometer for astronomical observations in the radio band. The facility is located on the Plains of San Agustin between cities Magdalena and Datil, New Mexico in the United States, about 80 kilometers west of Socorro. The telescope is located at 2124 m above sea level. NN and is part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory ( NRAO ).
Construction
The VLA consists of 27 individual radio telescopes of 25 meters in diameter and weighing 230 tons, arranged at various stations along three Y-shaped rails can be placed, each 21 km in length. According to the principle of the interferometer, it reached its greatest extent in the angular resolution of a telescope of 36 km in diameter. The VLA is currently the most sensitive radio interferometer for the centimeter wave range and operates at wavelengths from 0.7 to 400 cm ( corresponding to a frequency from 43 to 0.075 GHz). The best angular resolution is 0.05 arc seconds ( at a wavelength of 0.7 cm).
Usually, four different settings of the telescopes are used. The one designated by the letters A to D for the largest setting, when all bowls are contracted to 600 m. The various settings are run at regular intervals.
The VLA also serves as a control center for the Very Long Baseline Array ( VLBA ), a Very Long Baseline Interferometry array with a total of ten 25-meter telescopes located from Hawaii to the west and the Virgin Islands to the east. This creates the largest astronomical instrument in the world.
For the wavelength λ of 25 mm (12 GHz) is a base length B of about 8000 km available, from Hawaii to the Virgin Islands. The achievable angular resolution δ is about 0.6 milli-arcseconds ( with δ ~ λ / B * 180/pi * 60 * 60 in arc seconds ). Would the resolution in the optical domain is available, you could see on the moon details of the size of a meter.
History
The VLA was built in the 1970's in the Plains of San Agustin about 80 km west of Socorro, New Mexico, United States pursuant to a decision of the U.S. Congress in August 1972. The first antenna was installed in September 1975. The plant was finally opened in 1980 after a total expenditure of USD 78.5 million and is operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory ( NRAO ).
A technological advancement to, Expanded ' VLA ( EVLA ) is in progress. Characterized the sensitivity of the instruments, the frequency range and the resolution can be further increased. The proposal to install additional facilities in San Agustin and draw up to 8 other telescopes up to 300 km, and to be connected by fiber optic cables.
Media
The VLA plays an important role in the 1985 novel, Contact by Carl Sagan, although it is shown in greater by a multiple (131 telescopes ) and renamed Argus Array. In the Hollywood version Contact 1997 many of the outdoor scenes were filmed at the site of the VLA, the near Canyon shown is the Canyon de Chelly in neighboring Arizona. In the film adaptation of the VLA has, however, his actual size of 27 telescopes.
Also scenes were filmed on the grounds of the VLA Salvation: For the Movies 2010: The Year We Make Contact, Independence Day, and Terminator.
Visitor
The facility is open during the day throughout the year for visitors. A visitor center, a museum and a souvenir shop and a hike will be offered.