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A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING 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.

WHEREAS, the very large array radio telescope, situated

outside of Socorro, New Mexico, is one of the world's premier

astronomical radio observatories; and

WHEREAS, the very large array radio telescope is an

exceedingly powerful scientific instrument, which has

transformed many areas of astronomy in its years of operation;

and

WHEREAS, the array operations center is located on the

campus of the New Mexico institute of mining and technology,

which also provides scientific, engineering, technical,

computer and support staff for the very large array radio

telescope as well as the very long baseline array radio

telescope; and

WHEREAS, the very large array radio telescope has a long

history in New Mexico, having been approved by congress in

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

and

WHEREAS, the very large array radio telescope in New

Mexico is still the most productive astronomical instrument on

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earth; and

WHEREAS, it consists of twenty-seven radio antennas,

each of which is eighty-two feet in diameter, placed in a Y-

shaped configuration; and

WHEREAS, data from the twenty-seven antennas are

combined electronically to give the resolution of an antenna

twenty-two miles across, with the sensitivity of a dish four

hundred twenty-two feet in diameter; and

WHEREAS, Socorro, New Mexico, was chosen as the best

possible location for the very large array radio telescope,

based on the local climate and topography, its distance from

major metropolitan areas and its proximity of good roads; and

WHEREAS, the very large array radio telescope is used by

astronomers from around the world to conduct fundamental

research 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; and

WHEREAS, the very large array radio telescope is also

used for atmospheric and weather studies, satellite tracking

and other miscellaneous scientific procedures; and

WHEREAS, astronomy stirs scientific curiosity in

thousands of young people every year, who learn that astronomy

involves nearly the whole range of the physical sciences,

including mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology,

engineering and computer science; and

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WHEREAS, many professional scientists in these and other

fields first became interested in their profession through

astronomy; and

WHEREAS, in today's world marketplace, a competitive

nation needs its entire population, not just its scientists,

to have a basic level of scientific literacy; and

WHEREAS, astronomy, by providing the excitement of new

knowledge about the fascinating variety of strange objects in

the universe, can help communicate basic scientific knowledge

to all people; and

WHEREAS, the very large array radio telescope is of

economic benefit to New Mexico, in that it employs up to a

hundred people on any given day, who work to keep the

telescope in good working condition; and

WHEREAS, 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; and

WHEREAS, 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;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the national

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radio astronomy observatory's very large array radio telescope

be recognized for its significant contributions to science and

to the state of New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the directors of the national science

foundation and the national radio astronomy observatory.