Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) Radio Telescope

The VLBA is a system of ten radio telescopes controlled from the Array Operations Center in Socorro, New Mexico by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The array works together as the world's largest dedicated, full-time astronomical instrument. It uses the technique of very long baseline interferometry.Its first observation using all ten sites was May 29, 1993.

Each VLBA station consists of an 82-foot (25 m) diameter dish antenna and its adjacent control building which contains the station computer, tape recorders and additional equipment. Each antenna weighs 240 short tons (218 t) and is almost as tall as a ten story building. It uses earths diameter as a baseline.

The video was made from McDonald Observatory in Texas, which contains some of the World's largest telescopes. It was recorded during a tour of the observatory.

Also, near by is is Marfa, Texas, home of the mysterious Marfa Lights. The lights are mysterious and unexplained (but what tourists generally view are traffic lights). Some think they are UFOs, aliens, St. Elmos fire, electrostatic discharges, swamp gas (no swamp), ghosts, or the spirits conquistadores. The Marfa courthouse is famous because it was in the movie Giant. A number of movies have been made in the scenic area, such as No Country for Old Men and There will be blood.

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