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Renaming the Very Large Array
New submitter mercurywoodrose writes "To commemorate a decade-long electronics upgrade, the Very Large Array in New Mexico is up for renaming. Submissions may be made at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's website until December 1."
Big Ass Radio Telescope ?
Hash,Skiplist, Patricia, trie?
Very Very Large Array?
In Honor of Carl Sagan, the writer of Contact , and a populiser of astronomy
The Array
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Formerly Very Large Array?
Draw lines between the dishes on an aerial photo of the array, make a nice vector logo, and make the logo its name and refer to it as the Array Formerly Known as the Very Large Array.
int *A = malloc(SIZE_MAX);
Why on earth? And also in the universe?
Sent as ripples into the electromagnetic field. No single photon has been harmed in the process.
Why not auction the name and donate the proceeds to a scientific charity? I suspect that big money can be made ...
Super
Colossal
Alien
Tracker
OK I haven't thought of what the acronym means yet but you can bet that the Colbert Nation is hard at work submitting recommendations.
Completely "Oldstuff Left Behind" Enhanced Radio Telescope
VLA 2.0? :-)
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
VLAWNB - Very Large Array With New Bits
Seems the time to rename it would be once there are tons of even larger arrays, then it's the Pretty Middling Sized Array
Dis Array.
Very, Very Large Array?
The Array Formerly Known as Very Large Array
Legendarray (see what I did there?)
"Where are they?"
IABCOD "Imagine a Beowulf cluster of dishes!"
How about "Paul"?
Because all these constructions with their superlative names are always eventually surpassed by something else, I propose that we name this the "Pretty Big Array".
Future budget cut.
Very Large Upgraded Array.
Astronomer 1: did you see what "insert new name here" found?
Astronomer 2: "new name"??
Astronomer 1: The Very Large Array..
Astronomer 2: Oh yeah, they changed the name. Go on.
Old names have a tendency to stick around in proportion to how long they were used. Since the Very Large Array has been around for a while the name will probably be around for a while more.
Another issue is that researchers could be confused when the same piece of scientific gear is referred to by more than one name. It would be easy to miss the fact that the Very Large Array and "insert new name here" are actually the same piece of equipment.
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Modify it a bit to BFA 9000
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If this size-based naming goes much further we're going to end up with telescopes with names like The Bigger Than The Very Large Array But Not As Big As The Extremely Large Array Array...
Or they could just admit to their resolution envy and call it the Particularly Enormous Network of Interferometric Sensors.
In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
The "Big-Boned" Array.
or
The "Husky" Array
or
The "Once You Go Very Large Array, You Never Go Back" Array
or
Array con Pollo (wait, never mind about this one, I'm just hungry.)
or
Uncle Bob
Call it SHIT if you want, just don't cut the fucking budget!
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
IMO the best new name for the array is Leon.
How about naming it after one of the pioneers of radio astronomy?
- Karl Jansky, first to realize that there were radio waves coming from space
- Grote Reber, first to build a radio telescope
- Sir Martin Ryle, who came up with radio interferometry (although he's already had a radio telescope named after him)
It's got a long reach.
Isn't is obvious? Why give it a noble name when you can sell it.
Obviously.
In Korea, only old people die! No, wait...
Big array. I can't believe I was the first one to approach this one like an engineer.
It's and online poll, If they are honest, it'll be the Colbert Big Ensemble for Astronomy in the Radio Spectrum. http://www.cio.com/article/489397/Will_NASA_Name_Space_Station_After_Comedian_Colbert_ (Colbert has an issue with BEARS. I think his main motivation would be to detect any extraplanetary bears way ahead of time.) http://wikiality.wikia.com/Bears
Jodie's Ears?
How about the "San Agustin 27-VLA Observatory"? It says where it is, and how many elements it has. If another very large array is built sometime, it can be unambigiously named the same way without any confusion possible as to which array you are referring. Further, if there is only one Very Large Array right now, backporting the name as needed becomes simple. And, yes, the number may be unnecessary, but I like it because it is descriptive. If you like, you can replace the array count with the effective surface area of the combined receivers. If you do that, you may want to consider adding the effective receiver service area to the name Arecibo Observatory, as in "Arecibo 480 Observatory" (I think I got the math right). But in any case, radio astronomers use location names for their tools, why not continue that tradition? (And, yes, I've submitted the name in the first sentence -- this contribution amplifies on why I propose it.)
= Ginvla Is Not Very Large Array.
The Very, Very, OMG You Guys, It's Like, So Gigantic, You Have No Idea, It's Just So Huge Array.
s/[stupid comments]/[intelligent discourse]/gi
the "My God It's Huge Array"?
Its about time for another rush by Colbert Nation!
Something should be named after Dennis Ritchie.
No one ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke!
WAPIMA(TM)
What A Pain In My Ass (To Maintain)
That way we get two dead folks for the price of one.
Can't name it until a corporate sponsor purchases the naming rights.
I just submitted the name "Gene Roddenberry Array"... appreciate it if anyone else would as well.
space* dennis_ritchie[]; // The Dennis Ritchie Array of Pointers to Space
A.W.E.S.O.M.-O 2000 (A Wild Extrapolation Some Observe as Massive-O 2000)
There are only 25 receivers in the array, but each one is a huge 25 meters across. So really it should be the Array of Very Large Telescopes, not the Very Large Array of Telescopes.
Verne Large Array
I like Big Arrays, I cannot lie.
No? Ok, how about a name that keeps the VLA acronym intact. Voluminous Leering Apparatus
Acronym Attic has some guesses.
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
After the giant watchman in Greek mythology that kept a constant watch with his 100 eyes only closing a few at a time.
USB Low Speed 1.536 Mbit/s 192 kB/s
USB Full Speed 12 Mbit/s 1.5 MB/s
USB Hi-Speed (USB 2.0) 480 Mbit/s 60 MB/s
So call it the Full Size Array and wait for developments
How about the Intergalactic Communication Unit (ICU) to remind people that it can be used for communication as well as research.
Don't stop where the ink does.
Or "John Holmes".
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
I want to name my sailboat:
C, K&R C, Aztec C, ANSI C, C++, C99, C-more
It's another of my touring machines - chuckles!!!!
gmd
The array which until recently was known as "the Very Large Array".
Stargate.
Never say never. Ah!! I did it again!
Sell them. Make some money.
JP Morgan, Bank of America, and Citibank are all in need of some good PR right about now. Its up for sale.
Have gnu, will travel.
I say call it the VLA and move on. So the electronics were changed, it's still the same large array of antennas. Do we change someone's name if they get a pacemaker? OK, so maybe we might after a brain transplant (I know: DONOVAN!). Save the time/money and focus on the science. And yes, I know that NASA has shown that meaningless PR is the way to keep the great unwashed masses interested in science, but I also know that NASA spends way too much time/money on PR.
Slightly Ostentatious Array Project
I come here for the love
Big Ass Array Built in 2011, not to be confused with the future:
BAABI2017
(and to be named from now on with a funny symbol)
Very Old Interstellar Large Array.
Colbert 6000
FCKGW 09F9 42
As Neil deGrasse Tyson has pointed out, one of the great things about astrophysics is how straightforward all of their names are. It's a blackish, hole-ish thing? Black hole! It's a very large telescope array? Very Large Array?
So in that spirit, how about the Upgraded Very Large Array?
Simple, descriptive, to the point.
Just to have some pun...
Ultimate Array The Second
It gripped her hand gently. 'Regret is for humans,' it said.
'ip 'ip 'array
Given the ' funny' posts above, this definitely deserves 'witty'.
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I voted for:
Centre for the Evaluation of the Deeds of Chuck Norris
Or, Chuck's Very Large Array...
I didnt want to make my post an editorial platform (just the facts, maam), but i submitted to the agency my idea: The Mind-Bogglingly Big Array. as in "Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean you may think it's a long walk down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space. Listen..." I leave the determination of who (or what) said this as an exercise for the reader.
You hear about the person who didn't rely on anecdotal evidence to support his belief system?
In TFA, NRAO director Fred Lo is quoted: "The new name should clearly reflect the VLA's leading role in the future of astronomy, while honouring its multitude of past achievements." I guess the achievements are the VLA's guest appearances in Contact and Independence Day. I therefore suggest:
Big Antennas That Are Looking For Aliens
sigo ergo sum
The title says it all.
(I could not submit a blank comment)
sigo ergo sum
In honor of old New Mexico
It can be said in one syllable, and any signs can be recycled by moving around the letters.
If it isn't the Very Large Array, then it's simply the Large Array.
I heard that this is the nickname pilots have given it. It is what the VLA looks like to them from the air
"Very large" :D
Not the face!!!
nevermind...
How about "The Array Formerly Known as the Very Large Array"? Then give it a crazy unpronounceable symbol, and it will go back to being the VLA after a few tours.
Keep looking up!
My vote. :) Otherwise, just add a superlative every time it gets upgraded or repaired.
how is babby formed?
I wonder just how many of my fellow nerds submitted this same story?