Pixel Pilgrimage

The Big Ear

is inspired by Very Large Array, Magdalena, New Mexico

Inspired by a real place

Very Large Array, Magdalena, New Mexico
The Big Ear in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
In gameReal world

Real-world photo: Wikimedia Commons

In the game

A radio telescope site in the Bone County desert, near where CJ's plane comes down in 'Dam and Blast'.

The real place

The Very Large Array is 28 radio dishes, each 25 m across, on the Plains of San Agustin in New Mexico, and was featured in the film Contact. The game moves the idea into its Nevada-style desert and shrinks it.

Visiting

The VLA is about 80 km west of Socorro off US 60. A visitor centre offers a self-guided walking tour for a small fee.

Open in Google MapsShow on the big map

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