spacetoday.net: VLA radio telescope renamed after astronomer

Posted: Wed, Jan 11, 2012, 7:25 PM ET (0025 GMT)
Very Large Array (VLA) (J. Foust)

The Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in New Mexico has been renamed after a pioneering radio astronomer, but will retain the VLA as part of its new title. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) announced Tuesday evening that the VLA would henceforth be known as the "Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array" after one of the earliest radio astronomers, Karl Jansky. The NRAO decided to give the telescope a new name after completing upgrades to the facility that increase its scientific capabilities and effectively make it a new telescope. While the NRAO received over 23,000 suggests for a new name, there was criticism from some who preferred the original name. NRAO officials said their preferred shortened form of the name is "Jansky VLA".