Very Long Baseline Array
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The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) is a system of ten radio telescopes controlled remotely from the Array Operations Center in Socorro, New Mexico (USA) by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The array works together as the world's largest dedicated, full-time astronomical instrument using the technique of very long baseline interferometry. Its construction began in February of 1986, and was completed in May of 1993. The first observation using all ten sites occurred in May 29, 1993. The total construction cost was US$85 million.
Each VLBA station consists of an 82 foot (25 metre) diameter dish antenna and an adjacent control building which houses the station computer, tape recorders and other equipment associated with collecting the radio signals gathered by the antenna. Each antenna weighs 240 tonnes and is nearly as tall as a ten story building when pointed straight up. The longest baseline in the array in 8611 km.
The VLBA radio telescopes are located at:
- Mauna Kea, Hawaii ()
- Owens Valley, California ()
- Kitt Peak, Arizona ()
- Pie Town, New Mexico ()
- Los Alamos, New Mexico ()
- Fort Davis, Texas ()
- Brewster, Washington ()
- North Liberty, Iowa ()
- Hancock, New Hampshire ()
- St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands ()
