The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array/ Central New Mexico

Posted: July 2, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts | Tags: desert, New Mexico, radio telescope, southwest, The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array | Leave a comment

The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array is a radio astronomy observatory located in central New Mexico on the Plains of San Agustin, and was a location in the movie “Contact.” It is on a fairly isolated high desert plateau (about 7,000 ft.) and surrounded by mountains, making it an ideal spot to avoid the normal wireless interference in cities. The lack of humidity in the air also makes for a clearer radio signal. There is no cell service there and visitors are asked to put their phones in airplane mode.

The array is routinely re-configured to cover different parts of the sky by moving the dishes on a network of railroad tracks.

This is part of a photo series featuring the American southwest.

click photos to enlarge

Desert Rose in bloom/ Albuquerque, New Mexico

Posted: June 22, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: world travels | Tags: Albuquerque, desert, Desert Rose, flower, New Mexico, New Mexico Southwest | Leave a comment

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Gathering of Nations/ Albuquerque, New Mexico

Posted: April 29, 2018 | Author: Richard Lakin | Filed under: deserts, world travels | Tags: Albuquerque, deserts, Gathering of Nations, indigenous, native, New Mexico, pow wow | Leave a comment

Billed as the “The Biggest Pow Wow in North America,” the Gathering of Nations brings together participants from Indigenous Nations all over Canada, the US, and Mexico.

This is part of a photo series featuring the American southwest.

Click photos to enlarge.