NRAO ALMA Explorer Learn and Explore NSF AUI
Visit the VLA and its New Mexico environs with exclusive narrated and hosted video tours.
Telescopes > VLA > Explorer > Array Site > Control Building
twitter facebook YouTube
ABOUT NRAO | CONTACT | IMAGE USE | FOR SCIENTISTS | FOLLOW US
Go to Map Introduction Socorro New Mexico Tech Plains of San Agustin Datil Magdalena
  • Go to Map
  • Introduction
  • The Barn
  • Master Pad
  • Transporters
  • ALMA Test Facility
  • Riding the Rails
  • Long Wavelength Array
  • Pads
  • Configurations
  • At Night
  • Visitors Center
  • Wildlife
  • Special Events Building
  • Telescope Tour
    • Introduction
    • Elevation Gear
    • Receivers
    • Dish Surface
    • Cooling System
    • Electronics
    • Pedestal Room
  • Control Building
    • Introduction
    • Making Fiber Cables
    • Old VLA Correlator
    • Control Room
    • Fiber Optics
    • WIDAR Cabinets
    • WIDAR Cooling Units
    • WIDAR Power Systems
    • WIDAR Circuit Boards
  • Go to Map
  • Electronics Labs
  • Introduction
  • Orthomode Transducers
  • C-Band Receiver
  • Ku-Band Receiver
  • Soldering and X-raying Boards
  • Microsoldering
  • VLBA Data Drives
  • VLBA Correlator
  • Test Rack
  • Ka-Band Receiver
  • VLBA Control Room
  • Data Transmission Module
Control Room
Go To Map | Next Stop | Explorer Home

The Very Large Array is controlled from this room on the top floor of the back of the Control Building.

As a radio telescope, the VLA works night and day. The array averages 5,000 hours of observing every year, with maintenance and reconfigurations scheduled in between. All activities are directed, controlled, and monitored by staff in this control room.