Browsing: Very Long Baseline Array

The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) is a network of ten radio telescopes spread across the United States from Hawaii to the U.S. Virgin Islands, specifically designed for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). This array enables astronomers to make extraordinarily precise measurements of astronomical objects, resulting in images with exceptionally high resolution and accuracy. Operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the VLBA can observe radio sources such as quasars, supermassive black holes, and regions of star formation both within our galaxy and in distant galaxies. The data collected is vital for astrometry, the measurement of how objects’ positions in the sky change over time, which can reveal details about the objects’ distance and movement through space. This makes the VLBA an essential tool for studying the structure and dynamics of the universe.