NRAO webpage for Paul Harden
EVLA IF/LO Lab – RF Designer, EVLA Up-Converters/Down-Converters, other stuff
National Radio Astronomy
Observatory • Very Large Array (VLA) Radio Telescope • Socorro, New Mexico
IF/LO Lab 505/835-7142 or
pharden@nrao.edu
Last updated: 04
Aug 2008
• HOME PAGE •
SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION . . . (Actually, waiting for the paper work, Environment Impact Statement, title search and permits to continue)
• To EVLA Page NRAO/EVLA Work related documents and informationT301, T302, T303 EVLA Converters and documentation
World's largest radio telescope† The Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope on the Plains of San Augustin, 50 mi. west of Socorro,
New Mexico. Dedicated Oct. 1980, it remains the premier astronomical instrument in the world for radio astronomy.
† Legally,
the world's largest multi-element image synthesis phased array interferometer
Arecibo is the world's largest single-dishradio telescope
The NRAO 300-foot Green Bank Telescope (GBT) is the world's largest steerable single-dish radio telescope
My backyard 18MHz Jupiter L-burst antenna is one of the world's smallest radio telescopes
Historical VLA and VLBA Sketches These are a few of the sketches I have drawn of the NRAO over
the years.
Following the VLA dedication in Oct. 1980, the
engineers and technicians were placedon shift work to man the VLA 24 hours-a-day to quickly respond to system failures. There were
some mid-shifts with very little to do! So I spent some idle time drawing sketches of the VLA.** After 6-8 months, there were so few
electronic failures, shift work wasn't justified and everyone reverted back to the 8–5 day. Even today, with the electronics 25+ years
old, it is rare for failures to effect observing. ** In case my boss finds this website – that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
THE GREAT SOCORRO HAIL STORM – OCT. 5, 2004
The most damaging hail storm in Socorro's history, beginning about 3:15 pm and going on continuously until nearly 4 pm. Hail soft-ball
sized and larger, plus the unusually long duration, made it one of New Mexico's most devastating hailstorms on record. About 1,700
automobiles were"totalled" by the storm and an equal number of homes requiring roof and window replacements. "Ground zero" of the
hailstorm started near theFire Academy/Evergreen Drive, traveling to the northeast, directly over the New Mexico Tech Campus
and the NRAO AOC building, over the car dealerships at Socorro's I-25 north exit, and crossed the Rio Grande to the east at Escondida.
VLA ModComp computers
VLA emergency generators
Master local oscillator racks
VLA antenna "vertex room"
VLBA prototype system
Tracking "Voyager" at NRAO
Kitt Peak radio telescope
When the golf-ball sized hail began (view of NRAO AOC parking lot)
Busted out windshields in the NRAO parking lot. There was 100% damage to cars - about 80% being "totalled"
One of the first stones was measured at 4.5 inches - then they got bigger.
Bullock Ave. looking towards the NRAO AOC.
Frankling Street wasn't much better.
Many homes were damaged with windows and skylights broken. Over 2000 roofs in Socorro were replaced.
