Rails used by the VLA.
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Cows.
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In the foreground is a prepared site for the antennas. They are moved routinely during they year. As of Christmas 2010, they are set in very close together. The spacing affects the depth and the accuracy of the antennas "view." Different settings are used depending on how far out in space they want to look.
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The antennas are spaced out along 3 sets of double-railroad tracks. They are set in a Y. 2 sets go 13 miles and the third 11 miles. Thus they can simulate a 27 mile diameter solid antenna.
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This set of parabolic reflectors allows you to communicate across many yards of separation using the same principles as the antennas.
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There are a bunch of the antennas
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Each antenna has a 25 meter dish that is perfectly parabolic within 1/2 of a millimeter.
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An anemometer is on each dish to detect wind velocity, which can disturb the alignment of the dishes.
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Each dish is bolted to concrete pedestals embedded many feet underground for stability.
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The dish is aimed with these gears for elevation and tracks on the pedestal for azimuth. There is also refrigeration plants to super-cool the sensors to just above absolute zero.
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Each pedestal is numbered.
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Me in front of an antenna
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Me up close to the fence, which still keeps you a ways away from the antenna. These things are HUGE.
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Dale relaxing by the antenna
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Group shot
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This is the assembly/service building. the antennas were built there in the 1970s and ae brought back in for service every 3-4 years.
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This special built locomotive (one of 2) is used to lift and move the 230 ton antennas off their platforms and roll them to the next spot. This one is named "High Plains Lifter" a reference to the High Plains Drifter.
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Cows of the VLA
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