VLA

The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) is a radio astronomy observatory located on the Plains of San Agustin near Magdalena in central New Mexico, United States. It consists of 27 independent 25-meter dish antennas configured in a Y-shaped pattern. Operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) for the National Science Foundation, the VLA began operations in 1980 and was expanded in the 2010s through the Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA) project. In 2012 the facility was renamed to honor Karl G. Jansky, a pioneer in radio astronomy.

As an interferometer, the VLA combines signals from all 27 antennas to achieve high angular resolution that would be impossible with a single dish. Baselines extend up to about 36 kilometers, allowing detailed imaging of a wide range of radio sources. The array covers a broad radio frequency range, roughly 1 to 50 GHz, across multiple receiver bands. The antennas can be reconfigured into four settings (A, B, C, D) to balance resolution and surface brightness sensitivity, enabling flexible observing strategies for different scientific goals.

The VLA supports a broad program of research, including studies of star-forming regions, magnetic fields, active galactic nuclei and their jets, supernova remnants, masers, and planetary nebulae. It also participates in very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) networks and multi-wavelength campaigns, serving as a key facility for the NRAO and the wider astronomical community.