Thursday, January 31, 2013

Wildlife and the Cosmos


Monday was cold, Tuesday was windy. Took the opportunity to get some rest and recover. Yesterday, I was ready to get out and do something. Once it warmed up enough, I headed south to revisit Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Figured that if I had time, I might check out Very Large Array while in te area.

I was disappointed with the wildlife out yesterday. No snow geese - guess they had headed North already. Did not see any deer. Lots of cranes and ducks. Took a couple photos and headed to VLA.

Very Large Array is a collection of 27 antennas configured in a "Y", comprising a radio telescope. Each dish (antenna) measures 82 feet across. When set in the widest configuration, the array acts as one dish 22 miles in diameter!

You will find the Very Large Array in the Plains of San Agustin 50 miles West if Socorro, New Mexico. Interesting day.

1 comment:

Mumbles said...

My first brush with the VLA was using "Seti@Home" back in the olden days (think 1990s). Then, of course, "Contact" came out on film. I've always been fascinated by the way it looks, and by the apparent power there. I enjoyed the picture, and like reading--I've been by a few times.

Keep riding!

Kris