Some of it was shot in New Mexico at a place very aptly named The Very Large Array. The opening scenes of the movie, 2010, starring Roy Scheider, was also shot there. After seeing both movies, I always wanted to see this place for myself. And this is what I expected to see:
The above two pictures are not mine; just something found on the internet, owners unknown.
It was supposed to be about a 2 hour drive from Albuquerque. I figured since we were in the neighborhood, let's go! It turned out to be 2 hours to the turn-off, then another hour at least to the VLA. We went through Nowhereville, NM to get there.
And when we got there, this is what we saw....
The radio dishes were not in the position of my planned dream photo, but scattered miles apart! (I'm not sure if it was actual miles but it sure looked it).
After checking in at the visitor's center (be sure to turn off ALL electronic devices, even if you leave them in the car), we were able to walk up to one of the dishes. In the photo below, notice the two men in the bottom right corner. These things really are massive!
I have a bad habit, which I am going to rectify before the next vacation, of researching places after the fact. Meaning, after we left here, I found out the dishes are moved according to a pre-determined schedule. You can go to their website, check out the schedule, and plan your visit accordingly. In other words, if you want to see the cluster, check the schedule first.
Move them, you ask? How is that possible?
Special tracks! Notice the white blocks in the photo below? Those are the bases for the dish.
The moving equipment traverses the track, goes under the dish and lifts it off the base.
These puppies are back online a mere 15 minutes after being placed in a new position.
This is the maintenance hangar.
In the movie, 2010, Roy Scheider was working on a dish like this when he was visited by a foreign scientist (who didn't want to climb all the steps).
I had the long lens on my camera and couldn't stand under the dish to get the upshot I was wanting. Just too close. I need a 2nd camera body, so I don't have to switch out! (If I actually made money at this, I'd make that investment.)
The self-touring walking path takes you past the control building. Outside is an interesting sculpture.
It's called "Shiva: Shiwana" (1980) by artist Jon Barlow Hudson, is a stainless steel, three-armed sculpture representing the Y-shaped rail tracks of the VLA on which the 28 radio telescopes are moved, and also symbolizing the floating, 3-dimensional nature of stellar objects. Shiva, the god of creation, destruction and recreation references the universe studied by these telescopes and Shiwana is the name given to a healer who obtained his powers after being struck by lightening, from the local Tewa Tribe. (excerpt from this web page.)
At the beginning of the tour, you'll see this neat sun dial area (below).
I'm puzzled as to why graffiti would be allowed on something like this. Maybe these are important scientists who visited? There was a notice on the bulletin board in the visitor center requesting information about two of the names. So if you go there, don't tag the sun dial! They might come looking for you!
Yep, it's October!
In addition to the signs posted to beware, that snakes had been seen in the area, there's lots of informational displays about the science of radio waves, the universe and other sciencey stuff. But of course, the title on the display below is the one that caught my attention, lol. (Dragons!)
There will be one more post about the balloon festival, followed by some GORGEOUS photos from White Sands. Come back soon!
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