The Very Large Array sits on the Plains of San Agustin about 50 miles west of Magdalena along US-60, an unforgettable cluster of 27 white radio dishes spread across the desert like a science-fiction set. Each dish is 25 metres across and they move on railway tracks to reconfigure the array's effective resolution — sometimes spread 36 km apart, sometimes packed close together.
The site is open to the public daily, with a visitor centre, a short self-guided walking tour right up to one of the dishes, and free guided tours on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Bring water, sunscreen, and a jacket — the plain sits at 2,100 metres and the wind is always blowing.