Pacing Big Boy Monster Antenna

Union Pacific rails can transport the strangest things!

Somewhere out in wide open spaces of New Mexico, an odd site appears on the UP line. A large satellite dish antenna moving down line on a special self contained vehicle. This is truly a rare catch, indeed!

The satellite antenna belongs to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory about a two hour drive outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. It supports the (VLA) Very Large Array Radio Telescope for radio astronomy deep into space.

You can visit the facility M-F 9AM – 4PM ONLY 7 days a week. No one is allowed on site after that without prior authorization.

These large dish antennas get moved to other spots and then set up agian to look for different anomalies in outer space.