[1] These ten radio antennas work together as an array that forms the longest system in the world that uses very long baseline interferometry.

[4] Each receiver in the VLBA consists of a parabolic dish antenna 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter, along with its adjacent control building.

[4] The signals from each antenna are recorded on a bank of approximately one-terabyte hard disc drives, and the information is time-stamped using atomic clocks.

Once the disc drives are loaded with information, they are carried to the Pete V. Domenici Science Operations Center at the NRAO in Socorro.

The VLBA also makes observations in two narrow radio bands below one gigahertz that include spectral lines produced by bright maser emissions.