This is the Very Large Array in Socorro, New Mexico. It’s an incredible collection of twenty-seven radio satellites, each weighing as much as three Boeing 737’s. Their sole purpose is to gather shit-loads of information from our enormous universe. As far as radio telescopes go, the VLA is pretty badass. It discovered the existence of water ice in Mercury’s polar craters. It helped confirm Einstein’s theory of gravitational lensing (the way in which ridiculously massive objects in space bend and warp the light emitted from more distant celestial bodies).
It’s seen its fair share of cosmic jets and microquasars. And it helped define the Magellanic Cloud, a stream of gas and dust stretching across the universe for 2.5 billion years.
If you’re looking for an amazing experience that puts the paltry insignificance of the world’s problems into perspective, then look it up and make the trip. Even in the middle of tourist-crazy summer, the place is virtually deserted. It’s difficult to see why, but I would venture to guess that your average God-fearing Amerrrrrican doesn’t even know there’s a New Mexico, much less that it contains an incredible scientific observatory.
Seriously though, there aren’t many places like it in this country. And if we continue avoiding the promise of scientific discovery and embattling ourselves in endless geopolitical conflicts the way we do now, then there will be even fewer. Americans used to be the driving force behind astronomical discovery in the world. American space exploration put a man on the moon. It engineered the world’s most successful space shuttle. It unveiled the Hubble Deep Field.
Now, we’d rather spend sixty billion dollars on a moderately functional missile guidance system than six billion on methods to extend human life and knowledge into the far reaches of our universe. So, do yourselves a favor and check it out before it loses Congressional funding in 2012.
Pictures on the next page!
Notable Discoveries:
The M-82 Galaxy
Cassiopeia A
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