A total of 72 pads line the rails of the giant "Y" of the Very Large Array, with two additional pads for maintenance and testing. The pads have three piers that provide power sockets and data ports for the 27 active telescopes in the array.

To work as a single unit, each VLA telescope sends its data down fiber lines from its piers to the central supercomputer. The pads' 12 fiber lines also supply control commands and timing data, and the piers' power cable feeds each telescope's electrical equipment, especially the ceaseless cryogenics pumps that keep its eight receivers cold enough to stave off electronics noise.

Discover more about The Very Large Array (VLA) on our website:
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Take a virtual tour of the observatory and its surroundings:
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