P Harden HOME

• HOME PAGE •

SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION . . . (Actually, waiting for the paper work, Environment Impact Statement, title search and permits to continue)

The 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-dish radio 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

• To Electronic Hobby Pages Tutorials & Construction projects for hams, homebrewers, QRPers, and electronic enthusiasts

• To EVLA IF/LO Pages Work related information & documents on the NRAO T301, T302, and T303 EVLA Up- and Down-Converters.

• To EVLA "Front End" Pages Work related information and documents on the EVLA "Front End" (FE) cryogenic receivers and builds.


Built: 06 May 2004	Last update: 16 Apr 2013	pharden@nrao.edu

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

The Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope

Socorro, New Mexico

NRAO personal webpages for Paul Harden (NA5N), FE Lab

VLA vs. EVLA:

VLA construction began in 1975; I began working here in 1977; the VLA was completed and dedicated in October 1980. It has operated 24/7 ever since. In 2010, the Expanded VLA (EVLA) was completed. Virtually all of the VLA electronics was redesigned and rebuilt with current technology for greater sensitivity, wider IF bandwidths, and replacing the old circular waveguide with fiber optics. This included new receivers, new feedhorns, new up- and down-converters, and a new correlator.

The above Photo Gallery contains photos of the old legacy VLA, the EVLA construction, the EVLA today, and other site photos of the Very Large Array radio telescope.

Run mouse over photo Photo courtesy Jeff Goldin

VLA being protected by Imperial Stormtroopers