National Radio Astronomy Observatory
NRAO is not a division of New Mexico Tech (it is funded by the National Science Foundation),
but its offices are on the New Mexico Tech campus. The NRAO operates two major radio
telescopes based in New Mexico: the Very Large Array (VLA) and Very Long Baseline
Array (VLBA).
The Very Large Array is made up of 27 radio antennas configured in a "Y-shape" 50-miles west of Socorro, N.M. Each radio antenna is 82-feet (25-meters) in diameter. The data from each antenna is combined to create the resolution of an antenna 22-miles in diameter.
New Mexico Tech faculty and students conduct research using the NRAO facilities. Also, several NRAO scientists hold adjunct faculty positions with New Mexico Tech.