Very Large Array Radio Telescope

I worked at the VLA, off and on, from the time I was an undergraduate student to about half way through my graduate school days (by then I was a visiting scientist). I was present at a number of discoveries, including the first evidence for gravitational lensing (which I promptly parodied with an old picture of the Starship Enterprise firing dual phasers, much to the chagrin of the observatory staff scientists). Click on an image to get a better view.

	Here is one of the antennas. 212 tons, 10 stories tall and 25 meters across. These are impressive pieces of equipment, even without the mood lighting.
	Here is my friend Mike Thomas standing at the feed of one of the antennas. I'm on the edge of the dish.
	And here was my view looking out to the next antenna.
	There is an interesting mix of new and old at the VLA.
	Here is the classic view of the A Array Configuration.
	In this picture, one of the antennas has been taken off-line.
	The antenna transport vehicle is used to pick up and move the individual antennas.
	Here is the VLA main building after the observatory was dedicated. Few people actually go the the observatory any more. Everything is so automated that observers have no need to drive out there, but if you do go, be sure to eat at the stake house in Datil, just west of the array.