Visitor Center Hours
- Open Daily: 8:30 AM - Sunset
Gift Shop Hours
- Open Daily: 9 AM - 4 PM
- Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day
Directions
The Very Large Array and VLA Visitor Center is located 50 miles west of Socorro, New Mexico on the Plains of San Agustin, on U.S. Highway 60. From U.S. Highway 60, look for Mile Marker 93. Turn South on NM highway 52. Signs will point you to the VLA Visitor Center.
GPS Coordinates
34°04′43.497″N
107°37′05.819″W
The Very Large Array (VLA) in its most compact configuration ("D-array").
Visiting the Very Large Array
The VLA is open every day from 8:30 AM to sunset for free, self guided tours of the VLA and the VLA Visitor Center.
The VLA Gift Shop is open daily 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Gift Shop is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day.
First Saturday Tours
The VLA hosts FREE, 30 minute, Guided Tours on the first Saturday of each month at 11:00a.m., 1:00p.m., and 3:00p.m. No reservations required, simply show up at the VLA Visitor Center 15 or so minutes before the desired tour time. These FREE tours last 30 minutes and take the Visitor to areas behind the scenes at the VLA. In addition, family friendly, hands-on activities are offered from 11:00a.m. thru 3:00p.m. VLA Staff and Volunteers lead these activities and are on hand to answer questions.
The First Saturday Tour event culminates in an evening of FREE Guided Night Sky Telescope Viewing at the Etscorn Observatory on the Campus of NM Tech located in Socorro. The night time event begins at dark and lasts two hours, despite weather conditions, no reservations required.
April and October First Saturday Tours are "expanded tours" to accommodate crowds coming from the Trinity Site tours. The VLA calls these special First Saturday Tours, Open House Events. We host free, guided tours beginning at 11:00a.m. with the last tour beginning at 4:00p.m.. These free tours are hosted by NRAO Staff, last about an hour,and take the Visitor through VLA Operations. NRAO Staff are on hand around the VLA Site to answer questions and interact with the public, plus we offer hands-on, family friendly astronomy activities too! Night Sky observing is offered at Etscorn Observatory as described above.
Field Trips & Group Tours
For education groups, we provide guided tours hosted by the VLA Education Officer. To register for a guided tour for your education group please fill out the registration form at: http://www.vla.nrao.edu/genpub/tours/
We need at least three weeks' notice to arrange a guided tour.
Please take advantage of the downloadable educational resources located on the web page in order to prepare for your guided tour. Check out our youTube Video for a sneak peek of the VLA tour.
Education and Public Outreach office contact information:
Judy Stanley, NRAO/VLA Education OfficerP.O. Box O Socorro, NM - 87801e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Phone: Office: (575)-835-7243, Cell Phone: (575) -515-5780
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.