In an effort to escape the heat, we decided to explore Ruidoso over a long weekend. It is an eight hour drive from Phoenix and we came across some interesting things along the way. Perhaps the most interesting was the Very Large Array. My photo does not do justice to it.
This photo from the website is better.
This description is from the website: "The Very Large Array, one of the world's premier astronomical radio observatories, consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter. The data from the antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of an antenna 36km (22 miles) across, with the sensitivity of a dish 130 meters (422 feet) in diameter."
I had never heard of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, but through the wonder of internet access from our cellphones, we also learned about the Very Long Baseline Array: "The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) is an interferometer consisting of 10 identical antennas on transcontinental baselines up to 8000 km (Mauna Kea, Hawaii to St. Croix, Virgin Islands). The VLBA is controlled remotely from the Science Operations Center in Socorro, New Mexico. Each VLBA station consists of a 25 m antenna and an adjacent control building. The received signals are amplified, digitized, and recorded on fast, high capacity recorders. The recorded data are sent from the individual VLBA stations to the correlator in Socorro."
We also saw a sign for "TERA Site." What could that be? "The Terminal Effects Research and Analysis Group (TERA) became the first research center at the New Mexico School of Mines in 1946. TERA and its founder EJ Workman played a significant role in the development and deployment of the proximity fuse during World War II. This work flourished after the war as TERA continued to develop fusing devices and expanded into warhead design and testing. Due to the success of this endeavor, EJ Workman was made the President of the University and he changed its name to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Today the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) stands in place of TERA. EMRTC's 40-square-mile field laboratory is located in the mountains adjacent to the New Mexico Tech campus in Socorro, New Mexico. The field laboratory contains more than 30 test sites, gun ranges, other research facilities and storage areas, allowing for a complete spectrum of research and testing activities. EMRTC has the ability to conduct tests involving over 20,000 pounds of explosives. Current activities include warhead development and testing, large scale building survivability, Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) defeat, analysis and evaluation of homemade explosives."
We also saw signs for the "Lincoln Monument" - we thought that was in Washington DC, honoring President Lincoln. But here in New Mexico, it honors the "Lincoln County War of 1878." It all happened in and around Lincoln, New Mexico, then still a territory of the US (the territory eventually became the 47th and 48th states of New Mexico and Arizona in 1912). "The Lincoln County War was an Old West conflict between rival factions in 1878 in New Mexico Territory. The feud became famous because of the participation of Billy the Kid." Nowadays, there are many sites named after Billy the Kid and Kit Carson.
Through VRBO, we found a rental house in Ruidoso, owned by the Nutt family and appropriately named. The town and the street where the Nutt House is located are surrounded by Lincoln National Forest.
On Friday, I walked the one and a half miles to the local Albertson's grocery store. On my way back, I stopped at the local forest ranger station to get recommendations on where to hike.
Our first adventure was to Fort Stanton. "The Fort Stanton Historic Site is a must-see attraction when visiting Lincoln County. Nestled on Highway 220 that bisects the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway, New Mexico’s newest historic site features over 155 years of southwestern history ranging from its initial creation as a military garrison to its significance as the first tuberculosis hospital in the state, to an internment camp for German seaman during World War II." We visited the museum and then walked around the grounds. "With 53 buildings along the Rio Bonito, Fort Stanton is an ongoing project of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, ..." We ate lunch at the picnic tables by the museum, then set out to take a hike nearby. "Fort Stanton is also partner with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which oversees thousands of acres surrounding Fort Stanton. Visitors are invited to enjoy the nearly 100 miles of trails, a camping area, and horseback riding operated by BLM."
Saturday evening was a quiet night back at the Nutt House, enjoying lasagna and salad, and just taking it easy.
This photo from the website is better.
This description is from the website: "The Very Large Array, one of the world's premier astronomical radio observatories, consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter. The data from the antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of an antenna 36km (22 miles) across, with the sensitivity of a dish 130 meters (422 feet) in diameter."
I had never heard of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, but through the wonder of internet access from our cellphones, we also learned about the Very Long Baseline Array: "The Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) is an interferometer consisting of 10 identical antennas on transcontinental baselines up to 8000 km (Mauna Kea, Hawaii to St. Croix, Virgin Islands). The VLBA is controlled remotely from the Science Operations Center in Socorro, New Mexico. Each VLBA station consists of a 25 m antenna and an adjacent control building. The received signals are amplified, digitized, and recorded on fast, high capacity recorders. The recorded data are sent from the individual VLBA stations to the correlator in Socorro."
We also saw a sign for "TERA Site." What could that be? "The Terminal Effects Research and Analysis Group (TERA) became the first research center at the New Mexico School of Mines in 1946. TERA and its founder EJ Workman played a significant role in the development and deployment of the proximity fuse during World War II. This work flourished after the war as TERA continued to develop fusing devices and expanded into warhead design and testing. Due to the success of this endeavor, EJ Workman was made the President of the University and he changed its name to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Today the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (EMRTC) stands in place of TERA. EMRTC's 40-square-mile field laboratory is located in the mountains adjacent to the New Mexico Tech campus in Socorro, New Mexico. The field laboratory contains more than 30 test sites, gun ranges, other research facilities and storage areas, allowing for a complete spectrum of research and testing activities. EMRTC has the ability to conduct tests involving over 20,000 pounds of explosives. Current activities include warhead development and testing, large scale building survivability, Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) defeat, analysis and evaluation of homemade explosives."
We also saw signs for the "Lincoln Monument" - we thought that was in Washington DC, honoring President Lincoln. But here in New Mexico, it honors the "Lincoln County War of 1878." It all happened in and around Lincoln, New Mexico, then still a territory of the US (the territory eventually became the 47th and 48th states of New Mexico and Arizona in 1912). "The Lincoln County War was an Old West conflict between rival factions in 1878 in New Mexico Territory. The feud became famous because of the participation of Billy the Kid." Nowadays, there are many sites named after Billy the Kid and Kit Carson.
Through VRBO, we found a rental house in Ruidoso, owned by the Nutt family and appropriately named. The town and the street where the Nutt House is located are surrounded by Lincoln National Forest.
On Friday, I walked the one and a half miles to the local Albertson's grocery store. On my way back, I stopped at the local forest ranger station to get recommendations on where to hike.
Our first adventure was to Fort Stanton. "The Fort Stanton Historic Site is a must-see attraction when visiting Lincoln County. Nestled on Highway 220 that bisects the Billy the Kid Scenic Byway, New Mexico’s newest historic site features over 155 years of southwestern history ranging from its initial creation as a military garrison to its significance as the first tuberculosis hospital in the state, to an internment camp for German seaman during World War II." We visited the museum and then walked around the grounds. "With 53 buildings along the Rio Bonito, Fort Stanton is an ongoing project of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, ..." We ate lunch at the picnic tables by the museum, then set out to take a hike nearby. "Fort Stanton is also partner with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which oversees thousands of acres surrounding Fort Stanton. Visitors are invited to enjoy the nearly 100 miles of trails, a camping area, and horseback riding operated by BLM."
Saturday, we went to the Cedar Creek Recreation Area of Lincoln National Forest. We enjoyed a scenic six mile hike along the Upper Cedar Creek Trail, followed by a picnic lunch on one of the picnic tables in the heart of the recreation area.
Saturday evening was a quiet night back at the Nutt House, enjoying lasagna and salad, and just taking it easy.
No comments:
Post a Comment