Socorro, NM
The Very Large Array visitor center, situated on the VLA access road, is open daily from 8:30 a.m. until dusk and begins with a short video that outlines radio astronomy and the array’s operation. After the video, guests can explore interactive displays, watch a silent demonstration of how antennas are moved, and view a small radio telescope that tracks the Sun before proceeding on a guided walk that leads to the base of a 230‑ton antenna, an observation deck, and a prototype antenna used for the ALMA project. Upon returning to the center, visitors may browse a gift shop and, if desired, take a separate tour of the Antenna Assembly Building to observe an antenna undergoing routine maintenance and the transporter that moves the dishes, with photography allowed but cell phones required to be turned off.