Dear Summer Students, We would like to extend an early welcome to you, and to provide you with some information about your stay in Socorro this summer. We will be coordinating the summer student program this year, and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us. You can reach us via e-mail (lvanzee@nrao.edu, cfassnac@nrao.edu) or by telephone (505-835-7274 for Liese, or 505-835-7372 for Chris). There will be 5 REU students, and 6 non-REU students at the VLA this summer. We have included a list of the students, with their home institutions, in case you would like to get in touch with each other before you arrive. While you are here in Socorro, you will primarily be working with your advisor, on the project described in the letter offering you the summer student position. If you would like to know more details about your particular project, you should contact your advisor directly. During your stay here, we will be giving you lectures on various topics, to give you some background in how radio astronomy and interferometry work, and to show you the kind of science which can be done with them. You will also be expected to spend two or three days (primarily weekends) leading tours at the VLA site at some time during your stay, showing visitors around the telescopes, and answering their questions. We will also be taking at least one, and possibly more, field trips during the summer (expenses covered by NRAO). Each year the REU summer students, as a group, are alotted a few hours of VLA time to do whatever they choose. The decision about what to observe, the data and the project are entirely yours as a group. We will be able to give you advice and suggest some things if that is needed. For those of you already familiar with the VLA, the array will be in A configuration this summer. Your observations will probably be in early July. Socorro and the VLA: The VLA sits on the Plains of San Augustin, approximately 50 miles west of Socorro. The offices of the observatory are in Socorro at the Array Operations Center (AOC), and this is where you will be working most of the time. The AOC is situated on the campus of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (also known as New Mexico Tech). Socorro itself is a relatively small town, with a population of approximately 9000 people, but it has most of the conveniences you will need (supermarkets, laundry, etc). Socorro is small enough that you can safely walk to most of the places you will need to go, and everything is within an easy bike ride of the AOC. Travel to Albuquerque requires a car. There are good hiking and mountain biking areas around Socorro, and if you have a car or get to know someone with a car, there is a lot to see and do in New Mexico. We can also make arrangements for you to use the New Mexico Tech gym and swimming pool. Although it lies in the Rio Grande Valley, Socorro is high desert (altitude ~ 4600 feet). During the summer it will typically be in the mid-90s to low-100s during the day but will be quite comfortable, even cool, at night. The humidity is very low, but you will be here in the season of afternoon thunderstorms (July/August). This is the so-called "monsoon" season, but the rains are generally fairly light, so a light jacket should suffice. Getting to Socorro: Socorro is 75 miles south of Albuquerque on Interstate 25. If you are flying here for the summer, fly into Albuquerque. Please call or email Selfa Lucero (505-835-7357, nmreserv@nrao.edu) to make arrangements to get from the airport to Socorro. If you are driving to Socorro take exit 150 off I-25. However you plan to travel to Socorro, please contact Selfa Lucero and tell her your arrival information. You are entitled to two nights in the VLA Guest House, courtesy of NRAO, while you look for a more long-term place to live. Housing: You are responsible for finding your own housing during the summer. There is usually a wealth of student housing that becomes available after the end of the spring semester, so your best bet will be to consult the various notice boards around campus. We will be happy to help in any way we can. You should speak to Allen Lewis (alewis@nrao.edu) or Theresa McBride (tmcbride@nrao.edu) (505-835-7309) with your housing questions. They may also have information about specific houses that will be available so please contact them as soon as possible and let them know whether you would prefer to share housing or live on your own. For shared housing you can expect to pay around $200 a month. Other details: When you arrive at the AOC please contact either one of us, Allen, Theresa, Selfa, or your advisor. To be paid by NRAO you will need to see Allen or Theresa. You will have to show them a driver's license, and either a Social Security card or a birth certificate. Also note that you will only be paid once per month, with the first paycheck coming at the first month boundary after your arrival, so be prepared for that. If there will be a problem with any of these money matters, please contact Allen as soon as possible. You should also talk to Allen or Selfa about your travel reimbursement. NRAO will cover your travel expenses to and from the AOC, including the shuttle service from/to Albuquerque. You will have to fill out a "Travel Advance" form, and you can usually be reimbursed within a day of your arrival. We will arrange for you to have banking privileges at First State Bank here in Socorro. When you arrive, you will need to bring $11 for a refundable key deposit. Your postal address here during the summer will be: Summer Student NRAO P.O. Box O Socorro NM 87801 To ship things you may need to use the street address: NRAO 1003 Lopezville Road Socorro NM 87801 The front desk of the AOC can be reached by phone at 505-835-7000; they can put you in touch with anyone here. The nominal business hours are 8am - 5pm (MDT). If you have a question after hours try sending email to either one of us. For those of you with access to a web browser, you may find the answers to some questions on the NRAO web page, which can be accessed at: http://info.aoc.nrao.edu/ or on the official Socorro Summer Student page: http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~lvanzee/REU99/summer99.html Finally, please let us know your date of arrival, and approximate date of departure, as soon as possible. We look forward to meeting you this summer, Liese van Zee & Chris Fassnacht