The VLA or Very Large Array radio telescope installation is located in a remote part of New Mexico, about an hour’s drive due west of Socorro. The easiest way to get there is via US-60, a nice smooth, paved highway. The hardest, bumpiest, and arguably most scenic way, is to drive up state road 52 from near Winston, New Mexico. This is seldom traveled track is one of the loneliest roads in New Mexico and also perhaps one of America’s least traveled state maintained roads.
We’ve been down 52 on a several different trips to New Mexico. The first one was back in 2001, when we were moving to the Pacific Northwest from Texas, driving a large Ryder rental truck with everything that we owned in the back of it. Not familiar with “unpaved” state highways, we didn’t expect the pavement to end just north of the tiny town of Winston, yet there we were, with 60 miles of unimproved dirt track to travel, lest we backtrack to Cuchillo and take the interstate instead. Wanting to see some unspoiled open range country, we opted to forge on along the heavily washboarded dirt road, much to the detriment of countless fragile items that were packed away in the back of the truck!
Nothing But Big Wide Open Skies
As you’re driving along New Mexico state highway 52 you’ll most likely encounter antelope, deer, and lots of free roaming cattle, since this is all open range country. This is some of the most wide open – unfenced country that’s still accessible by public road anywhere in the US. The road is mostly straight, with a few minor deviations around – and even almost right through the front yards of a couple ranch headquarters – until you reach the Very Large Array radio telescope. Along the route we saw only four other vehicles – a busy day. On other occasions we were the only vehicle on New Mexico 52. If you love solitude and endless horizons, this is the perfect drive for you!
What Is The Very Large Array Radio Telescope?
The VLA, or Very Large Array, is comprised of 27 massive 82′ diameter radio dishes that are scattered across the Plains of San Augustin, west of Socorro, New Mexico. The dishes can be aimed in coordination with each other, effectively creating one large radio telescope. Each antenna weighs 230 tons, so railroad tracks are the only way the dishes can be moved.
From mapping distant stars, to tracking satellites and searching for intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, the VLA is a valuable tool for scientists. These giant radio telescope dishes were featured in the movie “Contact”, starring Jodie Foster, though their purpose is more for astronomy than being used for SETI, or the Search For Extra Terrestrial Intelligence.
The strange juxtaposition of these high-tech behemoths against the otherwise unpopulated and unspoiled New Mexico desert landscape is perhaps part of the appeal of visiting this unique place. If you love a driving adventure, why not take the long way to get there as well!
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s visitor center is also well worth a visit, and if you have time, their guided tour is very informative. We were fortunate to have visited a few years ago when it was open. The visitor’s center at the VLA was closed on our most recent trip due to Covid-19 precautions.
The Plains of San Augustin
The large dish-type antennas that make up the Very Large Array are spread across a wide section of the Plains of San Agustin, fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. The 27 dishes are arranged in a Y configuration, effectively creating one large radio telescope with a diameter of 130 meters or 422 feet. State-of-the-art tracking software allows astronomers to coordinate and simultaneously aim these dishes with laser-like precision toward distant galaxies. The antennas and sensitive radio equipment are able to receive the faint, primordial radio signals from the farthest parts of the universe. Some of the signals it receives have come from stars which burned out many light years ago. If you are an astrophysicist looking for answers to the origin of the universe, you’ve probably visited the VLA. Carl Sagan is among those who have used the Very Large Array for their research.
A One Hour Video Of New Mexico’s Loneliest Road
Below is a one-hour video of the drive from north of Winston, NM, to the Very Large Array. It’s a good one to put on while doing some mundane task. Sit back, relax, and leave the “driving” to us! There is no narration, only an hour of calm music and wide-open country passing by in Ultra HD.
- Parent, Laurence (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 11/01/2020 (Publication Date) - Globe Pequot (Publisher)
Tips For Driving New Mexico’s Loneliest Road
- As you leave the pavement behind, north of Winston, a sign warns that four wheel drive is required (not just recommended). Although you don’t really need it most of the year, seasonal rains may cause parts of the route to become very muddy – if not impassable to those without four wheel drive. Those who ignore the warning may pay a hefty fee for vehicle recovery.
- Watch for cattle and wildlife. This is open range country with few fences. Loose livestock can be found along the entire route of New Mexico’s Loneliest Road.
- Slow down when passing by homes. Several ranching families live along NM 52, and the road practically runs right through some of their front yards. Be courteous and slow down to reduce dust.
- Be sure to gas up before driving 52. There are no gas stations out here and few other motorists to assist you.
- To reduce the bone jarring effects of the wash-boarded road, you may want to reduce your tire’s air pressure – if you have an onboard air compressor.
- Respect private land. Much of this area is privately owned. Stay on the road, except for where public land is indicated.
For more about the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, you can visit the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Website.
For a nearby drive that’s also interesting, see our video about driving to the Mogollon Ghost Town below and our article about it Here.
