Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Anderson

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/18/2007

HJM 4

SHORT TITLE VLA Telescope in Recognition

SB

ANALYST Schuss

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 4 recognizes the national radio astronomy observatory’s very large array

radio telescope for its prominence in the field of astronomy and for its contributions toward the

advancement of scientific knowledge.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The very large array radio telescope, situated outside of Socorro, New Mexico, is one of the

world’s premier astronomical radio observatories. The very large array radio telescope is an ex-

ceedingly powerful scientific instrument, which has transformed many areas of astronomy in its

years of operation. It has a long history in New Mexico, having been approved by congress in

1972, constructed between 1973 and 1980 and dedicated in 1980.

The very large array radio telescope in New Mexico is still the most productive astronomical in-

strument on earth. It is used by astronomers from around the world to conduct fundamental re-

search on the nature of the universe and to seek answers to some of the biggest questions, such as

how the universe began, how big it is, how old it is and how it will end. Astronomy stirs scien-

tific curiosity in thousands of young people every year, who learn that astronomy involves nearly

the whole range of physical sciences, including mathematics, physics, geology, engineering and

computer science.

House Joint Memorial 4 – Page

2

Many professional scientists in these and other fields first became interested in their profession

through astronomy.

The very large array radio telescope is of economic benefit to New Mexico, in that it employs up

to a hundred people on a given day, who work to keep the telescope in good working condition.

The popular and award-winning movie “Contact" was filmed in part at the very large array radio

telescope which increased tourism to the area and has further supported the local economy.

The national radio astronomy observatory, which operates the very large array radio telescope, is

a facility of the national science foundation, which is operated under cooperative agreement by

associated universities, incorporated. The legislature of the State of New Mexico requests that

the national radio astronomy observatory’s very large array radio telescope be recognized for its

significant contributions to science and to the state of New Mexico.

BS/mt