Title:[0550] VLA - Very Large Array telescope Caption:The Very Large Array (VLA) located on the plains of San Agustin, approximately 95 miles southwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the world's largest aperture-synthesis radio telescope. The VLA consists of 27 identical 25-meter (82-foot) reflector antennas that are located on railroad tracks laid out in a "Y" formation. The north arm is 19 km (11.8 miles) long and the other two arms are each 21 km (13 miles) long. To change the configuration of the instrument, the individual antennas are moved along the tracks. When set up in different configurations, the instrument is capable of a wide range of resolutions and sensitivities useful for solving many different problems. The VLA has 10 to 100 times greater resolution and sensitivity than any single radio telescope. Each of the antennas is operated from a central control room. The radio waves detected by the antenna are converted to electrical signals and transmitted to the control room. By electronic correlation, the signals are compared and stored for detailed imaging and analysis. Copyright:(c) Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Credit:Photo by J. Goffe, courtesy of NRAO/AUI