Very Large Array Radio Telescopes

Radio Telescope

One Very Large Telescope

Very Large Array Radio Telescopes

Sculpture in the courtyard - signifies the Y shape of the telescope array

Telescope and lifter used to move the telescopes

Lifter and Gale

Tracks used for moving the telescopes

Track intersection used to move telescope from linear track onto its pad

Long Wavelength Array antenna - used to probe deep space

A group of Long Wavelength Array antennas

        This morning we packed a lunch and headed down to the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Preserve and drove the 12-mile tour loop stopping at every observation deck.  This is not the time when the marshes, ponds, and cornfields are full of birds.  We saw ducks and geese, one heron, 3 cormorants, catfish in the muddy water, lizards, 1 flicker, several small birds with yellow chest and yellow above the tail, 4 coyotes, and a big unidentified bird of prey, a falcon and a raptor with a white ring around his tail when he flew.  At least we weren't skunked.

Catfish in a marsh

Nice great blue heron

White Sands National Monument at Alamogordo, NM

        One of the main objectives of this trip was to visit White Sands at a time when the moon was full. While we were there we wandered on the dunes and then took the "full moon" walk with the Rangers. It really is a beautiful place.

Large picnic area

Tracing of grasses caused by the wind

Animal tracks - the desert is not a dead place

Tracks and a burrow for some small animal

Animal burrow

Animal burrow

Sunset

Sunset

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonrise

Moonrise

Moonrise - full moon

Moonrise - full moon

Moonrise - full moon

Moonrise - full moon

Moonrise - full moon

Moonrise - full moon

Sunset

Almost daylight with the full moon on the white sand

     This is an old sawdust burner that is located on the edge of town. The old mill looks a little the worse for wear.