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National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NSF NRAO
@thenrao.bsky.social
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The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation. #RadioAstronomy

📡 VLA, ALMA, VLBA, GBT, ngVLA
🔗 public.nrao.edu
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The NSF Very Large Array is open daily for visitors to explore - but did you know that we also offer free guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays?

Tour included with regular Visitor Center admission on weekends. No separate ticket needed.

🗓️ https://public.nrao.edu/events/

#VisitVLA #VLA #Astronomy
Photo of a Very Large Array radio telescope with a crowd of people on a tour in front of it. Text in white says: VLA Saturday Tours. Experience the Very Large Array! Photo of Very Large Array radio telescope dishes under a clear blue sky. Text in white says: VLA Sunday Tours. Come and experience the Very Large Array!
November 18, 2025 at 1:20 AM
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Cat’s out of the bag! 📡🎥🎬 The NSF NRAO is thrilled to officially share that the Very Large Array appears in Vince Gilligan’s new AppleTV+ series #Pluribus.

We’re honored to have served as a filming site and for the chance to work with such a talented team!

📸 Credit: Matt Credle

#VLA #Astronomy
Photo of a film camera pointed at a line of Very Large Array telescope dishes in the desert, capturing the scene for a shoot. Photo Credit: Matt Credle
November 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
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📸 2: National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and NRAO representatives holding the signed Letter of Intent. Credit: L. Zapata
Group photo of several people from UNAM and NRAO holding up their signed Letters of Intent. Tablecloths display the UNAM logo while a screen displays the ngVLA and IRyA logos.
November 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
thenrao.bsky.social
📸 1: Group photo from the Mexican Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI) and NRAO consultation meeting. Credit: L. Zapata
Group photo of several people standing in front of a 'Ciencia y Tecnología' (Science and Technology) sign at the SECIHTI/NRAO meeting.
November 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
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📸 2: Galaxy Y1 and its surroundings as seen by James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCAM (in blue and green) and by ALMA (in red). Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA (JWST), T. Bakx/ALMA (ESO/NRAO/NAOJ)
Scientific image of the galaxy Y1, with red details representing ALMA data and blue-green details representing James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCAM.
November 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
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📸 1: Glowing deep red from the distant past: Galaxy Y1 shines thanks to dust grains heated by newly-formed stars (circled in this image from James Webb Space Telescope).
Image of space showing a variety of galaxies, with one red galaxy in the lower left corner being circled in white.
November 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
thenrao.bsky.social
#NewMexico Please join us for the 60th Annual Jansky Lecture, "Exploring the Dusty Origins of Star Clusters" by Dr. Jean Turner.

📍 New Mexico Tech
🗓️ Friday, Nov 21
⏰ 7:00 PM

FREE! No registration required. https://science.nrao.edu/science/jansky-lecture/speakers/2025-jansky-lecturer-jean-turner
Promotional graphic for the 60th Annual Jansky Lecture titled 'Exploring the Dusty Origins of Star Clusters', featuring a starry cosmic background. The event will be at New Mexico Tech, Workman 101, on November 21 at 7:00 PM.
November 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
thenrao.bsky.social
The NRAO is in Görlitz, Germany this week at the Astronomical Data Analysis and Software Systems (#ADASS) astro-computing conference!

We are looking forward to discussing #ngVLA, #ALMA, #GreenBank, data formats, telescope operations, machine learning, and AI with our DZA colleagues. #ADASS2025
Photo of the NRAO exhibition booth at the ADASS conference, featuring a large screen with a photo of the ngVLA and several brochures displayed on a table. Photo of two people standing in front of the NRAO's exhibition booth at the ADASS conference. Photo of the outside of a brick building with the words Deutsches Zentrum für Astrophysik in white letters on the side of the building.
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 AM
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#Hiring The NSF NRAO is seeking an Assistant Director for Facilities and Administration (Charlottesville, VA).

The AD is the chief administrative officer for the Observatory - business administration and other support services.

Apply: https://jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/aui/CANDIDATEPORTAL/jobs/767
Graphic promoting an open job position for Assistant Director, Facilities and Administration at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, VA. The graphic has a colorful cosmic starry background.
November 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
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Support the Very Large Array (VLA) by joining our Membership Program today!

Inspire the next generation of scientists by supporting K-12 #astronomy and #STEM education initiatives - for as low as $25/year!

Join today: https://public.nrao.edu/join
Promotional graphic for the VLA Membership Program, featuring an individual with short blonde hair and sunglasses holding an iced coffee and a membership card, in front of a photo of the VLA radio telescopes.
November 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
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With a proposed 263 telescopes spanning nearly 9,000 km (214 of the dishes being concentrated in the U.S. Southwest), the Next Generation Very Large Array is expected to have about 10x the sensitivity and 10x the spatial resolution of the current Very Large Array or ALMA!

#Astronomy #ngVLA
Photo of the ngVLA prototype antenna against a deep blue cloudless sky
October 29, 2025 at 7:59 PM
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Calling all early career scientists! The NSF NRAO invites applications for the 2026 Jansky Fellowship Program.

🚨 Application Deadline is October 22, 2025 at 11:59 pm EDT 🚨

Details and apply: https://science.nrao.edu/opportunities/postdoctoral-programs/jansky
Photo of a row of telescope dishes at the Very Large Array, crossing the photo in a horizontal line, under a clear blue sky.
October 20, 2025 at 1:59 PM
thenrao.bsky.social
#OnThisDay Dedication of the NRAO - October 17, 1957.

Hard to believe it's been 68 years!

👤 From left: Richard M. Emberson, Lloyd V. Berkner, G. A. Nay, John W. Findlay, Ned L. Ashton, David S. Heeschen, H. Hockenberry, with model of 140 Foot Telescope

#OTD #FlashbackFriday #NRAO #RadioAstronomy
Black and white historical photograph of a group of 7 men standing around a model of a radio telescope
October 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
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Thanks to all who joined us at the VLA Fall Open House this past weekend! 📡 We appreciate you braving the weather and spending the day with us.

🗓️ Stay tuned for our next VLA Open House which will be in April 2026, date TBD.

#VeryLargeArray #VLA #RadioAstronomy #Astronomy #NRAO #NewMexico
Group of visitors on a guided tour at the Very Large Array, standing near the Bracewell Sundial. A large radio telescope is visible in the background and there are dark storm clouds on the horizon. Photo of two people posing and smiling for the camera at the VLA Open House event. They both have radio telescope temporary tattoos on their faces. Photo of two people smiling and posing for the camera, holding a small white terrier dog between them. They are outdoors at the Very Large Array with trees and buildings visible behind them. Photo of people ordering food from an "Authentic Mexican Food" truck at the VLA Open House event. The back of the ngVLA prototype antenna dish can be seen in the background, under a cloudy sky.
October 16, 2025 at 8:27 PM
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🚨 ALMA Ambassadors Program Cycle 13 - Application Deadline October 31, 2025! 🚨

Provides training and up to $5,000 research grant to students / researchers interested in expanding their ALMA / interferometry expertise.

Details and apply: https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/alma/ambassadors-program/
Promotional graphic for the ALMA Ambassadors Program, Cycle 13, 2026. The image features several large ALMA telescope dishes under a starry night sky, with the ALMA logo in the top left corner.
October 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
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Dr. Jean Turner, who has been awarded the 2025 Jansky Lectureship, will deliver the 60th Annual Jansky Lecture, "Exploring the Dusty Origins of Star Clusters" :

📍Charlottesville, VA - October 30
📍Green Bank, WV - November 2
📍 Socorro, NM - November 21

More info: science.nrao.edu/science/jans...
Promotional graphic for the 60th Annual Jansky Lecture, titled 'Exploring the Dusty Origins of Star Clusters.' The poster includes an image of speaker Dr. Jean Turner as well as NRAO logos.
October 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
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SANTA FE - Come learn about the future of astronomy in New Mexico! 📡 #SantaFe

Join the NRAO at Santa Fe Community College this Wednesday for a discussion and Q&A session about the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) project. #ngVLA

🗓️ Wed, October 8
⏰ 6:00 - 7:00 MDT
📍SFCC Lecture Hall #216
Promotional graphic for a Community Listening Session in Santa Fe about the Next Generation Very Large Array. The event takes place on October 8 at 6 PM at the Santa Fe Community College, Lecture Hall 216.
October 6, 2025 at 10:44 PM
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The Green Bank Observatory will host a virtual GBT Observer Training workshop from November 4-7. This will be a FULLY REMOTE training workshop, meant primarily for people who will observe with the GBT in the near future.

Application deadline: October 10.

greenbankobservatory.org/events/nov-2...
Promotional graphic for the Virtual GBT Observer Training Workshop scheduled for November 4-7, 2025, featuring an image of the large Green Bank Telescope in a forested landscape at dusk. Logos of NSF and AUI are displayed.
September 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
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Ever wanted to experience the magnitude of the Very Large Array in-person? Now's your chance!

Please join us at the #VLA Fall Open House for a free day of tours and talks on Saturday, October 11.

Admission is free, but advance tickets are required: nraoepo.ticketapp.org/portal/produ...

#Astronomy
Promotional graphic for the free VLA Fall Open House on Saturday, October 11 from 9 AM to 4 PM. The graphic features photos of the VLA telescopes and visitors against a dark purple background.
September 3, 2025 at 1:41 PM
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Happy National Dog Day from the VLA! 🐕📡

Well-behaved pups are welcome in all outdoor public areas at the Very Large Array as long as they are kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

#NationalDogDay #VeryLargeArray #Astronomy
Photo of two dogs sitting in front of a large radio telescope at the Very Large Array. Photo of a person with a hat sitting and holding a leash of a large fluffy husky in front of a Very Large Array dish on a sunny day. Photo of two Corgis on leashes in front of a backdrop of large telescope dishes at the Very Large Array.
August 26, 2025 at 6:20 PM
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Radio #ImageoftheWeek 📡 Construction of the first NSF Very Long Baseline Array (NSF VLBA) antenna - Pie Town, NM - circa 1986.

See more VLBA photos from the Archives: nrao.edu/archives/col...

📸 Credit: NSF/AUI/NSF NRAO

#Throwback #Astronomy #RadioAstronomy #VLBA #VeryLongBaselineArray #NRAO
Old photo showing the first VLBA antenna construction in 1986. A partially built antenna and a large crane stand out against the blue sky. Close-up photo of the first VLBA antenna construction in 1986. The completed frame of the dish stands out against a blue sky. Workers, who appear very small compared to the large scale of the dish, install panels on the dish's surface. Old photo of the first VLBA antenna construction in 1986. Some of the frame is constructed while other pieces sit on the ground. The sky behind the antenna is blue and filled with fluffy white clouds.
August 4, 2025 at 2:16 PM
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Girls will be like "I needed this" and it's literally just skies dark enough to see all the stars ✨

(It's us, we're the girls)

📍 Very Large Array - New Mexico
📸 Credit: NSF/AUI/NSF NRAO/Bettymaya Foott

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #RadioAstronomy #VeryLargeArray #VLA #VisitVLA #NRAO
Astrophotography image of a VLA radio telescope under a starry sky with the Milky Way, set against a horizon glowing with the light of a distant sunset.
August 4, 2025 at 2:12 PM
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I Love Lamp 💡

Outside the ALMA Operations Support Facility (OSF), fixtures are used sparingly to prevent light pollution. As you can imagine, none of these stars would have been visible if the light were on!

📸 Credit: NSF/ AUI/ NSF NRAO/ B.Foott

#RadioAstronomy #Astrophotography #Astronomy #ALMA
Photo looking up at a streetlamp at the ALMA site, with the starry sky and Milky Way visible overhead. Photo of the large ALMA sign with the Milky Way galaxy visible in the night sky above.
July 16, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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This #SocialMediaGivingDay, help support the NRAO's K-12 student education programs!

Join the Very Large Array (VLA) Membership Program for as low as $25/year, or consider joining the Karl G. Jansky Society for an even greater impact.

Learn more: public.nrao.edu/join.

#Astronomy #STEM #GiveBack
Promotional graphic for joining the Very Large Array Membership Program, featuring a man with a white goatee wearing a blue VLA Member t-shirt and a baseball cap. A photo of a VLA dish is in the background.
July 15, 2025 at 9:24 PM
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We also have many good critters at ALMA Observatory in Chile! 🦊

Credit: ESO/NSF NRAO/ALMA/P. Carrillo
A fox sitting on the sandy ground, with ALMA Observatory antennas visible in the background.
July 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM