Next Generation Very Large Array

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ngVLA News Items

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Inspired by dramatic discoveries from the Jansky VLA and ALMA, the astronomy community has initiated discussion of a future large area radio array optimized for imaging of thermal emission to milli-arcsecond (mas) scales that will open new discovery space from proto-planetary disks to distant galaxies.

This Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) is currently envisioned to include:

  • 10x the collecting area of the Jansky VLA & ALMA
  • science operations from 1.2 - 116 GHz
  • 10x longer baselines (300 km) that yield mas-resolution, and
  • a dense antenna core on km-scales for low surface brightness imaging.

There has been rapid progress in the ngVLA science case and technical requirements over the past two years though a number of NRAO-sponsored community workshops.  

As we continue to build towards a final vision for the ngVLA, we invite the entire astronomical community to become involved by signing up for the ngVLA mailing list, participation in upcoming conferences and workshops, as a member of the Science and/or Technical Advisory Council, as well as through our community-driven design studies program.  

 

A comparison of effective collecting area for a number of radio, mm, and sub-mm dish arrays expected to be operational in the 2030's.  

 

A comparison of achievable angular resolutions for a number of existing and expected facilities spanning the electromagnetic spectrum.  

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