description Very Long Baseline Array Overview
The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) is a system of ten identical 25-meter radio antennas distributed across the United States and its territories, from Hawaii to the Virgin Islands. Operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the VLBA uses very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) to combine the signals from all ten dishes. This setup effectively creates a radio telescope spanning thousands of kilometers, allowing researchers to achieve extremely high angular resolution for mapping distant galaxies, quasars, and star-forming regions.
help Very Long Baseline Array FAQ
Where are the ten VLBA antennas located?
The network stretches from Mauna Kea in Hawaii across the continental United States to Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each station uses an identical 25-meter radio dish.
How does the VLBA act like a continent-sized telescope?
The antennas record the same radio source using extremely precise timing, and their data are later combined through very long baseline interferometry. The longest separations determine the array's exceptional angular resolution.
What does the VLBA observe that optical telescopes cannot?
It measures compact radio sources such as quasar jets, pulsars, masers, and material around black holes. Radio interferometry also enables highly precise measurements of positions, motions, and cosmic distances.
Is the VLBA the same instrument as the Very Large Array?
No, the VLBA has ten antennas distributed across thousands of kilometers, while the Very Large Array places 27 movable dishes on tracks in New Mexico. Both are radio interferometers associated with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, but they have different layouts and scientific strengths.
explore Explore More
Similar to Very Long Baseline Array
ui.x_see_all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
