Comments on: Strange yet cool VLA time lapse video

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:40:42 +0000

Was that supposed to be “I’m not sure what I can say…”?

By: Dylan

Dylan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:50:48 +0000

“I’ve been to VLA*, many years ago to do a video for an educational activity, and I don’t recall seeing them behave quite this way. Maybe I should’ve waited until night time.”

I think if I visited the VLA at night while listening to Autechre on heavy psycedelic drugs this is exactly what I would be seeing.

By: Scott Boan

Scott Boan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:38:43 +0000

The answer to the question “What is different about radio astronomy at night?” is as follows: “It be dark”.

“oddly engaging” ? My God, this is only BRILLIANT. I saw the pair at 2:05, but when it was slipped-in earlier I shouted “HA!”, and started looking even MORE closely at the labels of WHATEVER was being labelled ! Conceptually and visually BRILLIANT. I’m going to watch it again and again and see if I can actually LEARN from this brilliant, beautiful piece.

Thanks for posting.

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:49:37 +0000

The BA said:

I’ve been to VLA*, many years ago to do a video for an educational activity, and I don’t recall seeing them behave quite this way. Maybe I should’ve waited until night time.

What is different about radio astronomy at night?

By: Joseph G

Joseph G — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:19:38 +0000

I like how the birds are labeled, too. Like they’re part of the instrument.

“And here’s the polarized feed horn, and over there you can see the azimuth motors. And up there we’ve got a couple Corvus brachyrhynchoses. Couldn’t have a working radio telescope array without ‘em!”

By: Jason Miller

Jason Miller — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:33:41 +0000

Such an iconic instrument deserves a better paint job.

By: Is there anybody out there? | bluejay's way

Is there anybody out there? | bluejay's way — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:38:48 +0000

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By: Shoeshine Boy

Shoeshine Boy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:25:54 +0000

Regarding the footnote, it has become fairly common around here to name things after people using their full name. I agree with the BA that this often results in clunky names nobody wants to use.

There is a fairly new street nearby called the “Thomas J. Rhodes Industrial Drive.” And yes, they managed to fit all that on the sign.

By: Ganzy

Ganzy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:49:05 +0000

@5 ChrisS

UK here Chris, it’s coming through loud and clear for me.

By: Ganzy

Ganzy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:47:40 +0000

Very good. Artistic Creativity in alliance with Science. We need more!

By: Beer Case

Beer Case — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:21:29 +0000

Chris S: It’s clearly viewable from Norway!

By: DrFlimmer

DrFlimmer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:42:57 +0000

@ Chris S

It’s quite visible from Germany (where normally most things are blocked). Do you lack some plug-ins in your browser?

By: Stathis Dimopoulos

Stathis Dimopoulos — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:40:19 +0000

You and Jeri Ryan pals? I ENVY YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:10:14 +0000

Because large millmeters = centimeter and ACA wasn’t a good acronym.

I’m sure you know that the Large modifies array and not millimeter in that acronym, but AMLA didn’t sound as good.

By: Chris S

Chris S — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:08 +0000

There is just a big white space with no link to the video. Is this only viewable from the USA. I’m in the UK

By: Vagueofgodalming

Vagueofgodalming — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:16:03 +0000

The name I like is ALMA: I’m still trying to figure out where those large millimetres came from.

By: DrFlimmer

DrFlimmer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:40:19 +0000

Ehm. I am still trying to figure out how I should describe this movie. Weird. And creepy. Sort of strange.

Yes, I know the name was recently changed to the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, [...] So to me, it’ll always be the VLA. And get off my lawn.

I am so with you on this point!

By: Satan Claws

Satan Claws — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:16:58 +0000

MOH PLEASE!

By: uudale

uudale — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:48:48 +0000

Check it out at about the 2:00 mark.

So those anomalous signals aren’t from ETs, they are caused by birds sitting (and doing other bird-like things) on the dish