Very windy day, Visitor center closed due to COVID-19. But awesome to see these huge Radiotelescopes. One of them even moved while I was standing near it.

Unfortunately it was closed when i visited. You can see some of the array from highway 60 but getting off and heading towards the visitors center offers a better perspective of the scale of this instalation. Its impressive. All of the antenna are on railroad track to be moved and serviced.

Even closed right now.... the place is fascinating. We were there on Sunday... and timed it perfectly for the directional change. One needs to stay off premise however. They watch the place closely.

I enjoyed very much video presentation, of this famous place, Ive been part of over zoom app as organized and conducted by the young people who work there currently. I get to know little bit more about radio astronomy and what exactly this radio telescope does to explore and understand better radio waves spectrum of our universe.

Really cool place to photography and experience since its in the middle of nowhere. This stop was a part of a road trip that my friends and I did throughout New Mexico and it was a blast. Be sure you have fuel heading out this way, theres not much around it when you get there, a few small towns before it.

Historical place highly recommend to visit. Cool staff, good excursion, but unfortunately you cant get close to all working antennas. Cool for photographers, but use telelens. Easy to find.

Beautiful but thanks to Covid 19 BS restrictions is closed...

Is asking me is there any bush or good place with lots of shade 2 miles ahead heading. I visited on the open house which was also the same day that Trinity site was open in October and it makes for a long day but was worth it in my mind. Best to bring a real camera if you want to take pictures as your cell. Coming from Roswell, youll pass through a really neat historic foothill town called Lincoln. I see large machines that bore tunnels deep in mountains, large ships, large planes, but the only man made machine. Her the last 3 decades. The ride (motorcycle) out to the array isnt short it is however, beautiful. The self guided walking tour is packed with information.

Visited this place twice. Nice and quiet out in the field watching the telescopes. We couldn’t visit during the Pandemic but we will return when we can

Was an awesome experience! Was able to visit the place of my dreams! Especially after watching the movie contact! Woman giving tour was very informative! But the woman running the gift shop seemed a little Irritated that we were there, we could tell it was hard for her to be polite.. we would have bought more things from the gift shop but didnt want to bother her. Maybe was because we got there a little early.

Awesome! Had no idea this existed (or was run by tax dollars) but so glad its open to the public for touring (and science-ing)! Very informative video (Jodie Foster), tour, and informational sheets in the visitors center.Very cool tour staff, including the Operator, who had enough time to enthusiastically tell us what she was doing in between servicing several monitors for the many radio telescopes outside. We got lucky on our tour right as they were inputting for a new project, so we were able to watch (from the Control Room) all the satellites turn in sync several degrees. Cool.

Just plain awesome! Well worth the drive from Albuquerque.

Wanted to visit the VLA for a long time. Very happy I took the time. Even with gusting wind I had a great time here. The size of the array is mind boggling. The video shown was great to learn the history and upgrades that have been done. The walking tour takes you to one of the radio telescopes and around the grounds. Lot of good signs to learn from. Will be coming back on a much less windy day.

Okay so I enjoy glaring out into space, so the opportunity to visit the VLA was worth the hour or so drive it took from Socorro. Now you wouldnt go here unless you were in the region for another reason, but when you are sitting in town with nothing to do, this is a great option. The girth of the parabolic dishes was kind of stunning; only usurped by the ginormous rabbits running around. You basically can just walk around unhindered, as there was no one else present in the late afternoon when I was there. All in all, a fun trip to pass the time away.

Since Carl Sagan & Contact Ive wanted to visit here. It was all that Id hoped for and more. Though I was here for one of the spread out formations, it did not disappoint. Although I was here on a weekend and was unable to be shown around by one who is wiser than l. They planned for me and others a self walking tour that was well thought out and plenty sufficient. Learning of the contributions from the international community was warming. However my hope is that our country will increase spending for such endeavors. Keep up the great work and Thank You for the open access to our Universe! Cheers.

A must see if you are anywhere in the area. Try to get there on a Saturday they are doing tours. Stay for sunset. PSA: you will feel the uncontrollable urge to watch Contact after you visit.

What a piece of human ingenuity. Great place to learn about how are we expanding the understanding of the universe.

Its really amazing that you can go up and see one of the dishes real close! Amazing place to visit!

Amazing place! Walking tour, gift shop, and an engaging 20 minute movie about the array and radio telescopes.

If youre even remotely interested in STEAM, go check this place out. Totally worth the drive and youd come out awe!Make sure you have full gas tank before starting the trip as there wony be anything for an hour until you reach the place and the only reasonable looking gas station will charge you arms and legs for items. So carry food items as well.

Ive car-tripped extensively in the inter-mountain west over the past few years and I just cant resist the VLA when Im in New Mexico. As both a science nerd and a lover of remote out-of-doors locations, VLA presents a juxtaposition of both worlds. There are so many iconic photos of the array, at various times of day, from various angles, and under all lighting conditions. I know theres not much I can add to the menagerie, but I cant resist. The accompanying shots were all taken during my most recent visit, in May of 2018. I cant wait to return. Its remote, but camping in Datil is pretty good (Datil Well).

Todays Open House event was superb.In the morning wed visited the Trinity test site and as we had another night in Socorro decided to pop along to Pie Town for pie. On the way back we popped in for the last couple of hours.All I can say is superb! The staff are amazing. Friendly and knowledgeable. They try to explain things for everyone to understand. Definitely worth a visit for anyone with the slightest bit of geek in themselves

Tens of metal dishes on the most dry and flat plain in the US. A good place to learn some astronomy knowledge. If you just want to take a photo with the array, it wiser to stay far from it, which could also save 6 bucks visiting fee

Great place for geeks and fans of Contact. I really enjoyed the informative exhibits.

The VLA is about 1 hour from Socorro but worth the drive. The place is great because of all the science discoveries that they have achieved. For us, the tour was not worth it. The fellow doing the tour mostly read the posters. Someone else told us that their tour was informative. They also have a short talk that was very worthwhile.

Extremely interesting. Nobody was touring when I was there. Got to talk to some staff. Super technology and in a grand scale. If your interested in the cosmos, or technology, its worth the side trip.

Great place to visit if you are a movie buff or a science geek. I am lucky enough to be both.

For anyone interested in science or space, this is a must! Its off the main route but definitely worth the detour. Makes you really think about what is out there and how little our planet really is compared to the universe. Its incredible the research that we are doing looking into the heavens.

This was a fun stop on our road trip. I happened to stumble across it on the map and we stopped on a whim. Im very interested in this type of thing, so I nerded out a bit especially when we got to see the whole array move. The girls with me had to be convinced to pay the $5 to enter, but in the end, they enjoyed it as well.4 stars instead of 5 simply because it didnt feel like the five dollars gave you much. The documentary they show can be viewed online as well as all of the information on the walls. We could have just as easily stopped on the side of the road a mile from the visitor center to get our pictures and read up on it along the way. If you are paying the money, I feel they should give you access to better picture opportunities. A good experience overall though and I do think its worth a stop.

Its almost surreal to see all of these radio telescopes popping up out of nowhere. It would have been great to see them all clustered together but an incredible didnt nonetheless. Bring your AAA card for a discount on the tour, only $6!

In the middle of New Mexico desert plains theres a huge science station of very large arrays; talk about a pleasant surprise! This place is great! I planned to only stop by but I ended up spending several hours here in a self-guided tour learning all about radio frequency from distant stars. I highly recommend a visit here (especially if youre a science nerd).

Talk about living a childhood memory. Although the VLA was quiet and almost no one else there when I popped in on a Monday afternoon, it actually added a little more to the magic of being there. I learned two things in the nearly two hours of visiting.First, movies and such take some liberties with how the VLA works...scientists dont sit around and listen for signals coming in. The VLA interprets radio light into visual images across the spectrum, and can be re-arranged into close and spread configurations to bring different aspects of what is observed into focus and to help create stunning images of the universe. Sorry folks, I wish we could hear signals relayed from Vega to provide instruction on how to travel faster than the speed of light, but it doesnt quite work that way.Second, more people need to explore and support this wonderful facility. Im hoping there was virtually no one there because it was late on a Monday afternoon, and although what I described above is about the extent to how I understand the content of the data interpretation (waaaay above my intellect), its a vital part of how we perceive the universe. Please come and see this facility, and if you can make it out to this dry ancient lake bed between Dital and Magdalena and experience the wonder of the VLA.

I met an old African-American man take a rest here without his vehicle even bike. The only way he stop by here is asking me is there any bush or good place with lots of shade 2 miles ahead heading to Socorro. I talked to him and found how admirable and respectable for this old man because he is on his way by walking from Los Angeles to New York. The purpose is trying to get founding to support education foundation for African children. One year later, I read his news and know he arrived to New York finally!! I think this is a special CONTACT for me when I was here in 2005.

I love to come out here any time of the year. There are so many things to take pictures of out here that it never seems to get old. And the fact that the array is always changing makes it even more interesting. They have a great little museum and a well maintained walking path out to the closest dish.

Great experience. Cool to see the dishes up close, the dishes are in different formations at different times of the year. Nice self guided tour and informational film.

Been meaning to make it out there for years on a business trip. Finally got the chance, and it did not disappoint. Cool walking tour. Id suggest getting there early enough to visit the visitor center which was quaint but informative. Head to Datil for dinner. The restaurant at THE blinking yellow light makes a fantastic bacon wrapped ribeye.

Good place to geek out for a little bit. The kids learned a lot and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I wish they would provide access to the building where the work is going on.

HAM radio geeks - this is a must stop if you are ever in this part of New Mexico. I was in Socorro for a class at New Mexico Tech and its about an hour away and worth the trip. I made it there right at sunset (get there before then side they close at dusk each day) and it was just beautiful - plus when it gets dark you can look up into the skies and see the stars so clearly, its truely amazing (especially if like me you are from an urban area with too much light polution).

I loved my visit here! Though it was in the middle of nowhere and extremely hot, this place was a lot of fun to visit, and I learned a lot too from the visitor center.

Ive wanted to see this place since watching the movie contact...unfortunately covid has shut this place down to the public...didnt find that out till I was there but I wanted to see the dishes in person anyways...recommended to visit after covids done ruining our lives...I mean how many places do you visit that can hear the noise that the big bang made when our universe was blinked into existence.

Interesting to visit although its a long drive from Socorro and the freeway. I visited on the open house which was also the same day that Trinity site was open in October and it makes for a long day but was worth it in my mind. Best to bring a real camera if you want to take pictures as your cell phone camera wont really do it justice

The Location is in the San Agustin Plain between Datil and Magdelena NM and bisected by Route 60. It is located in a desert. Although it doesnt appear desert-like, but given the near 7000 foot altitude does make sense as a Cold Desert as such would be located in states like Wyoming, the four Corners region which includes northern New Mexico.There are mountains around the plain, which serve to isolate the Array from surrounding radio frequency noise and distortion. The Plain is remarkably flat which allows for the array to expand up to 22+ miles.There is a small visitors center with videos explaining the operation and history of the array which was quite informative about its history, accomplishments and operation.Ive included Images of the array opened up to its apparent furthest spread of 22+ miles. The Array moved to a number of different directions while I was there, however in this series of images they are all pointing in the same direction. Interesting!

Very cool.spot... even though it was closed.

Fascinating place. They moved the radios while we were there. Too cool!

This is a very cool travel destination. Ive always wanted to see the array in person and finally was able to drive down and get a close look. I only had time very early in the morning so the building was closed and wasnt able to do any tour but i was able to get some great photos of the array at sunrise. Very much worth the drive from Albuquerque.

Very Large Array is very awesome. Take the guided tour, the additional insight is well worth it.

Great trip for anyone interested in science/astronomy. I recommend going during a tour time. Check the website .

VLA is a great day trip for family and friends.

Incredible in scope. Peering back at the origins of the Universe, the VLA captures images that are awe inspiring. As Carl Sagan said ...we are all made of stardust.

Great place to visit, videos, self guided tours.. Get up close with the big antennas

Magnificent installation set on a beautiful plain. The visitor center is nicely appointed. The self guided tour is an appropriate length for all ages, with learning activities for all ages as well. Worth the drive!

This is a very interesting place definitely not to be missed if you find yourself passing through this lonely stretch of highway in the middle of nowhere. Friendly staff. Very informative. $6.00 to get in.

It is definitely interesting. This place look amazing. Dont stop here at night time, you will see weird things on the sky

Worth a visit. Informative visitors center and a gift shop with reasonable prices. The experience is easily worth the modest admission price.

So happy it’s in New Mexico!!!

Nice little museum. Affordable admission price for adults. Very cool to see the dishes up close.

If you happen chance, please stop in, fascinating stories and very interesting to visit.

The VLA is SO COOL!!!! A lot of the reviews are saying how out of the way it is -- and sure, its in a pretty sparse area, but the drive is very scenic and pretty. Coming from Roswell, youll pass through a really neat historic foothill town called Lincoln. Lots of opportunities to stop and take in the beauty. The VLA itself is beyond impressive. If youre into science, technology, or structural engineering, it is totally worth a visit. Best $6 Ive spent in a while.

I had a lot of fun visiting this oasis of science and technology in the middle of nowhere! Its a long drive, but scenic. I attended the October open house, and was pleasantly surprised at how in-depth the tour was. They take you up to the control room and you can talk with the staff who are actually moving the antennas. The hallways had lots of photos of images and discoveries made at the facility. Space geeks can easily spend hours here.

Wow, this was a stop on our cross country road trip, and while I did not expect much it was great. Surprisingly there were a lot of visitors on the day that we showed up. The staff gave a very informative presentation and genuinely seemed happy that we were there to see this very large array of radio telescopes. They do tours out to one of the radio telescopes, while they dont allow you on the telescope you can get up near it.The Very Large Array (VLA) was not operating when we were there, but I dont know how it would have changed if it were as the VLA is a passive instrument.Apparently they move these very large dishes to extend the lens, we happened to arrive while the VLA was in one of its smaller arrangements.If you are in the area, stop by it is well worth the time and small entry fee. Plus the staff is very friendly.

We didnt go into do a tour! But it sure has a wow factor looking at it from the road. Next time! Its on the list.

I didnt want to go to this place, got dragged to it. The satellite dish receivers are H U G E. I took the self guided tour and was amazed at the size of the array. Stand up close to the receiver and you will be amazed at how quickly it moves to a new position in the sky. It is the film site of the Jodi Foster movie (forgot the name). Glad I went to see it. Dont forget to turn your phone off when there to minimize radio interference. The sky was amazing shades of blue from the horizon up. See the attached...

Surreal and serene. Absolutely worth an hour of exploration and education.

VLA is well worth the drive. It is s magnificent sight to see.

Very interesting place in New Mexico. Science for people.

The VLA is incredible. Honestly, its not something I grasp as well as someone who has studied this, but they did a pretty good job at explain like Im 5.Cell phones need to be on airplane mode and all Bluetooth devices turned off so they dont make noise that interferes with the faint waves coming from deep space.About 5 or 10 minutes off the highway, through a cow pasture, is the visitor center. The visitor center had a couple friendly ladies working and directed us to a room with a 20-minute video narrated by Jodie Foster. After, we did a self-guided walking tour, about 20 - 30 minutes, that took us up to one of the satellites and had plaques with more information.It was definitely a great stop along the highway if youre passing through.

Amazing loved the history wish there was a little more.

Amazing place to check out for a not so ordinary destination. Me and my girlfriend who are electrical engineering students really enjoyed it.

Makes you feel small! Eerie, but awesome at the same time.

Good time. Very interesting!

Awesome place, very informative and interesting

We had a blast. The kids were so amazed.

It takes a lot to Impress me. This world has impresses sites that came from the work of Gods hands. I see large machines that bore tunnels deep in mountains, large ships, large planes, but the only man made machine that has ever impressed me is this Very Large Array. We are actually mapping the stars for our descendants.

Absolutely amazing! You can walk up to one and take pictures! Id no doubt come back again! If you like science/astronomy like I do then I highly recommend this!

Very interesting place to visit. Lots to see and learn.

I was driving across an empty part of New Mexico, and my electronic map (OsmAnd+, doesnt need data service) showed there was a mysterious symmetrical Y-pattern a few miles ahead. I puzzled over what it could be and determined to stop at the exact place it crossed the road, to figure out what X-Files secret it might be.But before I got to the spot, when all those dishes came into view, I figured it out! I had read about it years before, I even remembered the name. Well worth the stop. Whether it is worth a long drive, however, depends on how much you like space-stuff.And normal Google Maps wont work so well in that valley: no cell signals. In addition to the standard reason (being in the middle of nowhere), its legally prohibited: the radio signals would interfere with the science. You need offline maps, paper or electronic, but nothing that needs cell service.Note: Though these are similar to satellite dishes, dont be fooled, they are not for aiming at nearby satellites, circling in earth orbit. No, they are radiotelescope dishes, for directing at things much, much…much farther away.

A must see if in the area. Be prepared for very brisk, high winds. Brrrr.

So very cool. Glad I made the trip to see this

Harboring a deep curiosity about space from childhood, the VLA was even more impressive than Id imagined over the last 3 decades.The ride (motorcycle) out to the array isnt short it is however, beautiful.The self guided walking tour is packed with information that even school children can understand, there are interactive stops along the tour and plenty of photo opportunities of the dishes and the completely encircling mountain peaks.

The ability to look deep into space

Fascinating. Awe inspiring. A must even if out of the way drive. If you like NASA & real science this is your turf. Lots of Antelope. No cellphones allowed except for airplane mode quick photos. Then power off between shots. Rattlesnake warning. We saw none, just lizards & more antelope.

Incredible place for any Astro or engineering or physics nerd to visit.

Impossible to not notice when driving US60 and well worth the trip out if you arent going that way already. The visitor center is very nice and provides a lot of information on what array is, how it works, and what it has found so far. A must visit site for anyone interested in the cosmos.

Interesting and unique observatory. However, I would not come here more than once.

These structures are very interesting and arranged in a way that is very appealing to the eye. Once you get to the visitor center their function and purpose is explained in various ways including a nice video.

Was one of the best stops on my trip. Definitely worth the side trip. The walking tour around the facility is educational and awesome.

Its out of this world! Except that its not, its very much in the middle of New Mexico which means that you can visit it.

An unbelievable sight to behold. We got there just before sunrise. As the sun came up and you can see the antenna it wasnt possible to fully comprehend how gigantic they are. Was only after the sun had come up and we walked towards the antenna and could see some perspective that we realized how truly awe-inspiring they are. As I looked out over the desert and saw the vast array antennas I was completely blown away.

Really interesting. Watch the videos and read the information inside. Buy a little souvenir. Then walk the trail outside for a close up of one of the telescopes. Worth the side trip off Rte 60. Try to go when they have guided tours.

Loved the drive and the information!

Extremely interesting!! Beautiful drive! Great handicap accessibility!

Being born at the beginning of the space age, Ive always been interested in anything related to outer space. I visited the VLA and went back twice over two days to wander around out there and look the amazing setup in the middle of nowhere. I love getting away to isolated places like this and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Visiting here would not be for someone who gets bored quickly and requires a lot of stimulation to stay engaged. But, if you enjoy tranquility and vast open spaces, where you can sit quietly and contemplate the universe and how insignificant we are, this may be the place for you...

Totally amazing experience! In the middle of nowhere... Exciting!

Awesome place to visit. We got a tour from students on the weekend.Very educational and fun to see.

One of the most beautiful man made structures. The thought behind this marvel is truly inspiring

We went on a Saturday and got to tour the control room. It was so interesting and the staff were great

Awesome place! Self tour is fairly short, but the science is worth it!

Tractor trailer friendly, was able to park right in front of the Visitors Center. Took about an hour to watch the narrated video and take the self guided walking tour, best $6 I ever spent. Gift Shop items are very reasonably priced, the only problem is deciding what to buy!

Awesome!I Lucked out when I got a video of all of the moving in sync!Even a Nerd will love itBeats driving by it and wishing you stopped

Tours are the first Saturday of every month. Come find out about this premier scientific instrument. The giant 25 meter dishes are truly awesome. Worth the drive!