Do you ever find yourself forgetting how small you are in our ever-expanding universe? Need a good reminder? Then look no further than the Very Large Array.

The VLA is one of the world’s premier astronomical radio observatories, and it’s right here in the Land of Enchantment . With 27 radio antennas stretching out in a massive Y-shape, it’s no wonder people travel from around the world to visit it on the Plains of San Agustin, fifty miles west of Socorro.

Scaling in at an impressive 82 feet in diameter and weighing 230 tons, each antenna is large – very large. So, what do these giant space telecoms do besides look cool? Since their establishment in 1973, the VLA antennas have made groundbreaking discoveries like the presence of ice on Mercury, Black Holes, and much more. Whether you find yourself trying to make first contact with an alien species or simply in the mood to marvel at some cutting-edge technology, the Very Large Array should be on every Lobos’ bucket list.

Very Large Array