Suggest a new name for the Very Large Array

The Very Large Array is a spectacular piece of a scientific equipment with a less-than-compelling name. Located in New Mexico, you've seen this radio observatory pop up in the background of movies, album covers, and on Carl Sagan's Cosmos.

This year, the Very Large Array, which has been around since the 1970s, got some much-needed electronic upgrades and now the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, which runs the Array, would like to rename it. Ideally, the new name should sound less like a Best Choice product and/or something produced by the Dharma Corporation. (We've got your "Canned Peas", your "Potato Chips" and your "Very Large Array".)

Entries will be accepted through December 1. The new name will be announced in January. The comment section will be full of sarcastic jokes.

Via Sarah Kavassalis

Image: Wikipedia user Hajor, used via CC

Maggie Koerth-Baker is the science editor at BoingBoing.net. She writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine and is the author of Before the Lights Go Out, a book about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Facebook.

Maggie goes places and talks to people. Find out where she'll be speaking next.

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msbpodcast

I like “Emily”. Its not an acronym or anything. She’s just Emily the radio dish array.
- jackbird
  
  If going that route, it should be “Eleanor”, or “Elly,” as in “Arroway.”
http://artdonovan.typepad.com Art

“The Gigantic Electrical Radio Space Ears That Don’t Really Take Neat Pictures Like Hubble”

(Catchy Acronym: T.G.E.R.S.E.T.D.R.T.N.P.L.H.)
http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on

Mr. Antenna Pants
http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on

That-Which-Must-Not-Be-Renamed
beemoh

Am I the only person desperately trying to think of something that acronyms as “VERY LARGE ARRAY”?
- Aric Forbing
  
  Vast
  expansive
  radio,
  you
  listen
  always.
  Radio
  gods
  expect
  absolute
  reverence,
  relayed
  always by
  you.
- Julien Durand
  
  velar (like the sound rrrrr)
Draxlith

“The comment section will be full of sarcastic jokes.”

Well, they can clearly dish it out, so hopefully they can take it, too.
GuyInMilwaukee

The “Holy Crap That’s a Big Array” array has nice ring to it.

Kidding aside… Is there an array named for Carl Sagan yet? That would have my vote.
xenphilos

First thing that popped into my head: int array[very large]
jamesggilmore

Why not just call it the Sagan Array?

If you need to make it an acronym, it would be the Sweet-Ass Gigantic Astronomical Networked Array.
- bwcbwc
  
  Yeah, as I recall it made an appearance in “Contact” as well as “Cosmos”. Name it after Sagan and be done with it. Unless there’s some sort of institutional rivalry resulting in NIH syndrome (“Not Invented Here”, not “National Institutes of Health”). Now let’s see: The Sagan Large Array? The Large Sagan Array? The Very Sagan Large Array?
  
  Oh well. Skip Sagan. Let’s name it The Large Boing-boing Array.
  - crummett
    
    >>>…it made an appearance in “Contact” as well as “Cosmos”.<<<
    
    Also "2010".
    - Guest
      
      ‘This is very bad for my asthma!’
Paul Renault

The Ultimate Freakin’ Interferometry Array?

Or has that acronym already been taken?
Bevatron Repairman

Big Bucket o’ Janskys.
http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on

+5 Array of Radio Listening
nixiebunny

The grad students where I work made a joke poster for the Super Huge Interferometric Telescope, which would actually describe this thing pretty well. Not the connotation, but the acronym.
GIFtheory

the Very Large But-Not-As-Large-As-It-Could-Be-Thanks-Obama Array
Lobster

Excessively Huge Array?
wendy robb

This one has my vote :)
OohErMissus

Giant INterferometric Observatory Of Radio-source Mapping Array System – or GINOORMAS, for short.
Don Smith

The Some Like It Hot National Array.
planettom

I’m trying to remember what the project was named in Arthur C. Clarke’s IMPERIAL EARTH, it was a space-based Very Large Array, basically. It could see in all directions, and I’m thinking it was named after some Greek mythology figure or something. But I’m blanking. Maybe it was just Janus.
- Bevatron Repairman
  
  Argus, I believe.
  - planettom
    
    Thank you!
  - CountZero
    
    Argus Panoptes (Argus “All-Eyes”), a giant with a hundred eyes. It would certainly be appropriate, especially with the Clarke connection as well. Yes, that works for me.
- Andrew Stadler
  
  Argus
http://maggiekb.com/ Maggie Koerth-Baker

You have all lived up to my expectations/hopes. Thank you.
Cocomaan

I suggested the “Well Endowed Array”
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Smith/714041653 Jim Smith
  
  LOL
Chris.Williams

Argos.
- http://twitter.com/ubernerd83 Chris Schonegg
  
  Argos was Odysseus’ dog. Argus was the many-eyed guardian of Io.
- http://glitch.tl/ Michael Smith
  
  Argos
  
  I thought we were saving that name for the moons of Saturn. Thinking back, didn’t the accident at the end of Imperial Earth happen at the (then very old) VLA? Or was it at a later telescope array?
Chris Collins

["hip", "hip"] anyone?
- Cocomaan
  
  Hip Hip Array?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5310808 Christopher Locke

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Dishes.
Dishes who?
Dishes de biggesht array I’ve ever seen.
- Guest
  
  Oh, dishisn’t the FBI…?
http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on

Parabolic Optimized Observatory Platform
- bwcbwc
  
  Oh POOP, you never fail us!
- Julien Durand
  
  Poooo
http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on

The “Just think, somewhere out there in the vastness of the universe, another civilization has an identical array of radio telescopes pointed back at us. And did you ever really look at your hands?!” Array
ChicagoD

I guess Dish Network is already taken, isn’t it.
sudsi

The Array Formerly Known as “Very Large”. Or Diddy.
TheHowl

Boo NRAO. What’s wrong with Very Large Array? It’s nicely descriptive, and pretty awesome in its own prosaic way. Not everything needs rebranding (I can just see them now: “ooh, ooh, could we name it Quikstar? that sounds hip and high-tech!”).

(Don’t even get me started on the dumbass backronyms.)
http://twitter.com/cicadamania Cicada Mania

Mr. Mulloonigans.
zweii

Array XXL
GuyInMilwaukee

Arroway Array
http://twitter.com/strugglngwriter strugglngwriter

I kinda like Very Large Array. It’s unique and says what it is. How about Unbounded Array?
http://www.jjsaul.com Jim Saul

We should call it “YASNY.”

You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.

Or “What they thought was big back before we discovered the first few signals.”
http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on

I am become Array, observer of worlds.
http://www.jjsaul.com Jim Saul

“Very Large, you know, for a ground-based array. But really groundlings, don’t feel bad, size doesn’t mattter.”
calebcharles

Carl’s Array Really Large
snusles

Big ‘n dishy
GuyInMilwaukee

The “Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky” Array
http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on

Space F*cker 5000
Seto

They better not name it “Carl Sagan’s Very Large Array”!
- http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on
  
  Oh… I think they better. =)
- David James
  
  No, it’ll be something more like “Subway $5 Foot-long Array”. With hand signals and another goddamned catchy jingle.
  
  And then everyone will still just call it the VLA, except for sportscasters, who will visibly cringe every time they say the name. (You think it’s a coincidence they’re basically never on-screen when they announce the stadium where the game of the day is being played?
angstrom

I suggest something that appeals to the voting public’s knee jerk response, and therefore ensures continued funding.

#1 : Alien Sky Cannon
#2: i Earth - instant messenger
#3: Prayer Booster Pro
#4: American Eagle Patriot Defense Shield
#5: Mothers for Family Values national Monument
- http://twitter.com/strugglngwriter strugglngwriter
  
  I’m with you. I think #4 would work the best with only one tweak. Add Ronald Reagan’s name.
  
  #4: Ronald Reagan American Eagle Patriot Defense Shield
http://twitter.com/3parkbenchhydra A Hut Full

Does anyone else think “Very Large Array” is perfectly awesome?
http://twitter.com/iheartinternets Alfonso Estevez

The Yo Mama-rray
- senatorvreenak
  
  The “Still Not As Big As Yo Mama-rray”
- petertrepan
  
  The Yo Mama-rray is so big, it grants funding to Congress.
  The Yo Mama-rray is so big, the centermost dish just picked up a TV broadcast from 1936.
  The Yo Mama-rray is so big, when it triangulates on a star, the triangle is equilateral.
  The Yo Mama-rray is so big, a scientist once fell from the top of a dish, and Congress passed legislation requiring his coworkers to catch him.
aynrandspenismighty

Edith Head?
http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on

Mighty Monstrous Matrix
Red Pill Junkie

*Stellarazzi

*Arrayzilla
andyhavens

The Uncovered Dish Super
Alvis

I’d mess with conspiracy buffs by naming it the Weather Dominator.
Red Pill Junkie

All your Arrays are belong to Us
allybeag

I’ve always liked Very Large Array. Why change it? It describes what it is, which is more than a lot of names do. There’s something quite poetic about its prosaicness.
TheOmbudsman

O Array,
Ooh, you are so big…
So absolutely huge…
Gosh, we’re all really impressed down here, I can tell you…
Forgive us, O Array, for this, our dreadful toadying, and barefaced flattery…
But you are so strong and, well, just so super.
Fantastic.
Amen.
technogeekagain

This seems a no-brainer: Which noted astronomers/astrophysicists/cosmologists, or educators in those areas, don’t yet have a ‘scope named after them? Among those, whose work was or will be most facilitated by the VLA, and thus is best to associate with it?

Or just find someone from those ranks who is named Vila or Villa, so the abbreviation need not be changed.

(I’m still waiting for the Sagan to become an official unit of something, with a value that can be described as “billions and billions”)
RJ

The Quite Substantial Instrument. If that doesn’t work for the array, it would still work as a porno title.
xzzy

If a name change is necessary, I think the only reasonable thing to call it is ‘Vlad’.

(the existing name is fine, I love it when scientists let their sense of humor show and they should leave it as is)

The worst part about these naming contests is invariably something hopelessly sappy is chosen, and it was probably submitted by some 9 year old kid. It will either be dripping with patriotism, or function as a memorial for someone/thing.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7J2M4NXZV3DITFPPDZVKALT2XQ Troy

VLAD – Very Large Array Designation
- http://twitter.com/zacharyjohnson Zachary John⚡on
  
  VLAD The Space Impaler
Paul Butler

How about degrasse knoll array.
awjt

The Shrooms
wibbled_pig

Finding Aliens is Really Tiresome
thivai

Our Array is So Big it Hertz
Nadreck

How about various peepers from literature?
Heimdall
Marlowe
The Planatir
The Guardian of Forever
The Panopticon
hairfool

Upgraded Very Large Array
- awjt
  
  Upgraded Very Uniquely Large Array, or UVULA
  - nopenopenope
    
    Very Uniquely Large Vast Array.
    - awjt
      
      Very Uniquely Large Vast Upgraded Very Uniquely Large Array
      
      (VULVUVULA)
      - http://maggiekb.com/ Maggie Koerth-Baker
        
        Very Unusually Vast Unique Zesty Enormously Large Array
        
        VUVUZELA
        It’s a great acronym, and a comment about how obnoxious our radio broadcasts probably are to the rest of the Universe.
      - http://twitter.com/_tillwe_ Till Westermayer
        
        Shouldn’t that be VUVUZUELA, i.e. Very Unusual, Very Unique, Zeta Ultra Enormously Large Array?
Ken Thomas

Since NASA refuses to name anything after Neal Armstrong, I think they should name it after him.

Besides, Armstrong Array sounds pretty cool.
- hexwench
  
  I believe you mean to honor Neil Armstrong.
  - Ken Thomas
    
    Ha! And I believe you are correct, sir – Thank you.
yadayada

First thought: Very Big Array.

That’s why I’m not a writer.
James Ph. Kotsybar

Christopher Locke wins my vote for best joke!
Mike Baker

Look Array Up There
lee_hasler

Jumbo Space Nipples?
keihin

Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish Dish
Petzl

Get corporate sponsorship and call it
The DORITOS® Spicy Sweet Chili-Flavored Tortilla Chips Very Large Array.
- mappo
  
  If it was corporate sponsored, I’d go with the “Carl’s Jr. EXTRA BIG ASS array”.
http://twitter.com/mdleach martin leach

Earth Zit

or BAARRAY – pronounced BARRY – for Big Ass Array
http://twitter.com/mdleach martin leach

WGT11 – We Go To 11 !!!!

courtesy of spinal tap!
Michael Bishop

“The Ear”
zachleat

Arrayarrhea
http://artdonovan.typepad.com Art

I LIKE that, Jack! :)
http://twitter.com/NotSoNiceville Grant

The Ted Kennedy Memorial Wicked Monstah Array
Krutus

The My Balls Array.

(Sorry)
ymr049c

The Very Large No Seriously You Should See It Array
Mongrove_Moone

technogeekagain said:
(I’m still waiting for the Sagan to become an official unit of
something, with a value that can be described as “billions and
billions”)

Might I suggest we start using the Sagan as an astronomical unit for 10 billion stars? We could describe the Milky Way as being on a scale of 20-40 Sagans.

My thought is, for you to have “one” billions, you would need two billion. (In the same way that you need a minimum of two “dog” to actually have “dogs”.) “Billions and billions” would then imply, at very least, four billion. But since that’s an awkward number for a decimal-based civilization to use, rounding up to 10 (the building block of the metric system) seems quite… logical?
Talia

Name it Dis! :P

Serious suggestion: I love the sound of Asimov Array.
moioci

Vast Tracts of Land Array
http://twitter.com/lwirbel Loring Wirbel

Dishes for Pie Town (in honor of nearby Pie Town NM)
slashdottir

The “total perception vortex”
slashdottir

The “Total Perspective Vortex”, I mean
Teller

The Loring Wirbel-inspired: Deep Dish Pie-in-the-Sky

Or, given its mission: Array of Hope
lorq

The Array of Unusual Size.
http://profiles.google.com/jon.scott Jonathan Scott

The Lidless Eye
Derek Parlee

The cupboard.
omems

Large Array of Independent Dishes

You can figure out the jokes from there.
Frank W

Nyarlathotep.
Gtmac

I’m quite surprised, given the likely prevalence of old school gamers on this site that no one went with “BFA”.
GregS

Some people already jokingly use “Sagan” as a unit denoting 4 billion. “Billions” has to be at least 2 billion, so “billions and billions” is 4 billion.

Personally, I’d like to see the VLA named after Carl Sagan, who certainly deserves some sort of honor on this scale.
parfae

Raymond Throat-Wobbler Mangrove
- Ambiguity
  
  Raymond Throat-Wobbler Mangrove
  
  I assume that would be spelled “VLA.”
Ethan Holman

Andre The Giant Array.

or

The Notorious BIG Array.
Ethan Holman

I Like Big Radio Telescopes And I Cannot Lie; You Other Astrophysicists Can’t Deny.
huxley82

Marjorie the Very Large Array, How do you see so far away?
BBNinja

I suggested BFA, a tribute to Doom’s BFG, which if you’re familiar with the acronym… :P
http://poemsaboutinternetdating.com Poems About Internet Dating

looking at these reminds me of that story about how domestic turkeys are so stupid that if they look up at the sky when it’s raining they will drown.

so probably something about turkeys?
Bob Rossney

The people behind this idea are maybe a little too close to the problem, because the name “Very Large Array” is perfect. It’s mysterious: very large what? Large compared to what? How much bigger than large is very large?

It’s modest in a speak-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick way: it suggests something like, “we could call this the Extremely Massive Array, but there’s no need for us to try and spook people. But don’t cross us.” And finally, it gives the suggestion that this is a tool for people who are serious, not dilettantes on the Internet who need to be entertained – while, paradoxically, entertaining dilettantes on the Internet.
- GlenBlank
  
  It’s mysterious: very large what? Large compared to what?
  
  Compared to the Very Small Array?
  
  :-)
jowlsey

The embiggened radio telescope.
http://www.facebook.com/jason.shankel Jason Shankel

“Is That An Array In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Happy To See Me”
“The Really Really Very Large Array”
“The Not So Small Array”
“The Fucking Ridiculously Large Array”
“The What Are You Compensating For Array”
http://twitter.com/doubletee Thomas Terashima

The Saganizer™
- http://deansli.st/ Dean Putney
  
  The Central SCRUTINIZER!
arkansas

The Bigger Than Your Array. This Space for Rent Array. Go Away Array.
arkansas

Viagrarray.
arkansas

The HarryCArray.
Dwen Dooley

Betty Crocker’s Very Large Array.
A perfect dish, every night.
hummakavula

Up, Up and Array?
http://libraries.unl.edu dross1260

Far Far Array
Talia

How about Faye? The Faye Array. :D

As an aside, I like how the comments/likes recieved thing glitches out periodically. Like I saw this just now: ” 109 comments 2364 likes received” and briefly felt VERY popular :D
awjt

“Hesher was here!”
http://todaywasawesome.com Dan

Big Eye
Bug Eye
The Ant Hill (all those smaller things working together)
The Latin Villa (ever notice how latin areas have tons of satellite dishes so they can get the spanish channels?)
The Busybody
Bowl Town
The Universal AC
Fistful of dishes
awjt

Very Unusually Luscious Vast Unique Zesty Enormously Large Array

VULVUZELA.

My work is done here.
http://twitter.com/_tillwe_ Till Westermayer

Very Large Array, Newly Extended/VLANE

(or even: VLA mark 2)
http://www.xradiograph.com/ OtherMichael

EARTh := uniquE Array of Radio Telescopes
EARhART := uniquE ARrAy of Radio Telescopes
jimh

Mike
Benz BenMan

…SciEquip…
MonkeyRobo

Earth’s Ear Trumpet.
http://twitter.com/zeroanaphora แอ็ะปปี้

First of all it’s the DHARMA Initiative. Not a corporation (although they held several fake companies.) And the DHARMA has to be capitalized.
fnc

Very Larger Array

…or maybe…

Eye of Sauron
pete_thedevguy

Jean-Luc Picard Memorial Array.
http://twitter.com/w5kby John M. Bowman Sr.

Astra Very Large Array AVLA. —Simple and to the point
http://twitter.com/Instine Phil Teare

Lucinda.

Pron.: Looky ‘n Da
bwcbwc

How about the Aperture Science Listening Portal
Charlie B

A great example of the inherent futility of the Semantic Web.

This thing already has a name. A lame one, it’s true, because we should know by now not to officially name things “very adjective noun”. But that lame name already has a significant body of existing associations (paperwork, websites, etc.), and yet we’re talking about renaming it, as though that wouldn’t be a total waste of time and effort.

OK, I vote for “Emily” then.
jimh

HollaBack
demidan

Babel Dish.
freddiefreelance

Eryvay Argelay Arrayway
Sofia Ortiz

Very Large Array = VLA
VLA flipped is ALV
So I think we should call it Alvin.
And it should broadcast chipmunk tunes, just to be extra-annoying to the universe.
demidan

Sirius Cybernetics easy listening device
http://twitter.com/wildbell Will Campbell

At first glance, I’d go with ‘Hip Hip Array,’ But Am I wrong for also wanting to demand a contest to choose a new name for the contest? “Suggest a new name for the Very Large Array!” has absolutely no pop and one exclamation too many.
Julien Durand

The Ear
crummett

Bob. Wait, is this a boy array or a girl array?

Seriously, what’s wrong with Very Large Array? It has a geeky straightforwardness I’ve always liked.
demidan

The Bose Star Canceling Headphone Array mkII
jimh

Beeper King
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XVXPQFXHBNLZGUKVIYMF6YW3YE Gene

“Shhh! We’re Listening.”
Guest

Planet Listen-Thing
jimh

The Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Array
(okay, I stop now)
petertrepan

Name it “The Cloud,” and imply that it’s required for iPhones to function properly.
ackpht

I like the idea of a cosmological unit called the “Sagan”. As for the VLA, my first choice is:

The Frickin’ Huge Array
dogden

The Very Large Array is an awesome name. It’s memorable, it describes the very large array perfectly, and it lacks pretention. Lacking pretention makes the Very Large Array unique.

Who wants a Saganscope or an iListen or an Al Gore Memorial Satellite Dish Field? No one! They want a very large array! And that’s what you know you’re getting when you use or visit the Very Large Array.Keep the name!
http://twitter.com/chuckmonkey2010 Chuck

Toby.
Tim Samson

This makes me a little sad. I always loved the name of the VLA. I say they keep it. At least there is still the Overwhelmingly Large(OWL) telescope.
Ambiguity

In order to ensure continued funding, I think it needs some kind of TSA tie-in.

The Alient Invasion Backscatter Protection Array
Doug Madden

skynet?
oohShiny

I dunno, we could just name it Carl. Not an acronym, just… you know. Carl.

“What’re you doing today?”

“Ah, I’m going to go see if Carl’s heard from the aliens yet.”

“Right, cool. Later.”
http://halfbakedmaker.org Robert Baruch

“Bigeyes”. For prefix, I chose “Mr.”
JoshP

I’d go with Sagan Array, something Saganish,etc. Why..?
1. Why not? It personalizes that project and might bring more attention to the SETI and radio telescopy in general.
2. Besides neologizing being fun, I think it would be cool if the term ‘Sagan Array’ went into general usage to describe large radio arrays. If these things proliferate we are going to need a catchier term than, ‘that there clump of giant dishes over there.’ Two birds with one big ass stone.
Purplecat

call it BORAT

the Bunch Of Radio Astronomy Thingies.
Doug Madden

ocularis infinitum
http://halfbakedmaker.org Robert Baruch

The Space Listening Game
Doug Madden

the Matrix?
http://twitter.com/StringsMagGregO Greg Olwell

The Antennae Formerly Known As The Very Large Array? Or Phil.
http://halfbakedmaker.org Robert Baruch

The Easy Listening Station?
National Public Radio Receiver?
http://shadowfirebird.tumblr.com shadowfirebird

I suspect that they’re working on an even larger array and are trying to avoid calling it the Even Larger Array, so they need the name.

With that in mind, I suggest we rename it the Fairly Large Array.

Or Emily.
dagfooyo

They should just keep it the VLA. But if they have to change it I agree it should be named after Sagan.

Or:

Up, up, an Array!
http://twitter.com/variablerush Bradley Hall

I suggested GoldenEye.
Brainspore

They should call it the Virgin® Large Array just to see if they can trick Sir Richard Branson into thinking he agreed to pay for the thing.
menton

This is what I submitted: The Sting Array (shorthand: the Sting).
videobored

The long time ago in a galaxy far far array…
Red Pill Junkie

Stellar
Array for
Universal
Remote
Observation
Network
- David James
  
  This reminds me of a gem of an antenna- the SATAN Tracking Antenna (seen here: http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=13923)
PhosPhorious

Over the hills and far array.
chrism

I’m British. How about The Reasonably Large Array?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_D4T4YNUWZWKI4IKFJUWEVY7CUE Connie

Larray (Larry) of course.
B.R. Booten

The Texas Satellite Dish.
http://twitter.com/wjcstp Bill Connell

Array in a Manger

Home, Home on Array

Array Bradbury

or, if they don’t mind moving it… Arraysin’ Arizona
demidan

Big Brother
Jim Sedgwick

Big Boned Array
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Smith/714041653 Jim Smith
  
  LOL
skabob

Babs’s UVLA – Upgraded Very Large Array
UncaScrooge

Marmaduke.
factbased

How about something ruder, like “Wankel Rotary Array”?
John Evans

The Bucket of Ears
Bill Higgins– Beam Jockey

The 100th birthday of Grote Reber, the eccentric pioneering radio astronomer, is coming up on 22 December. He worked at times at NRAO’s Green Bank, WV, site, and people there still remember him. So it might be appropriate to rename it the Reber Array.
wiredfool

The VLA is far larger than either the Overwhelmingly Large Telescope or the Extremely Large Telescope.

I still like Array Of Unusual Size.
http://twitter.com/MrAaronSwainEsq Aaron Swain

In all seriousness, I really think it should be renamed to honor either Carl Sagan or Arthur C. Clarke.
http://www.paradea.org/notes/ Teirhan

This is the best comment thread. I <3 you all, boingboing.
Antinous / Moderator

If they name it Princess Marzipan Fluffytoes, it would save me the trouble of getting another cat.
Palomino

Hypnotized Chicken Ranch
Bloo

Atari Multi-Player Pong
Ria Kirkbride

TWAIN? Technology without an interesting name. Still fairly bland, still fairly apt and still having a touch of geek humour… Or is that a lil too subtle?
Keith Benoit

Norm Array.
Keith Benoit

Pray the Gay Array.
Keith Benoit

Cet obscur objet du désir.

(In honor of Fernando Array)
yeahyeahwhtever

GFA
(Giant F**king Array)
Keith Benoit

Always Twirling Array.
Keith Benoit

Norm Array.
Keith Benoit

Glorious Dawn Array?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSgiXGELjbc
Keith Benoit

NIMBY Array.
whisper dog

The Not Overcompensating At All Array

The Quietly Intimidating Array
j9c

Pre-Peak Oil Big Government Oh Hey Wait *Socialist* Expenditure That We Can’t Afford To Run Anymore Now That We’re Out of Cheap Energy, We’ve Trashed Our Country’s Education System and Scientists Are Likely Planning a Mass Exodus to a Self-Respecting Nation That Doesn’t Consider Ketchup a Vegetable in School Lunch Programs and Creationism a Serious Alternative To Evolution in School Curricula… Array.

Sorry, kinda drawing a blank on the acronym here.
Dom

The Harpo Marx Memorial Array, out of respect for the great man.
http://www.aculei.net/~eredien/ CP-S

The Lewis Thomas Array:

“Perhaps the safest thing to do at the outset, if technology permits, is
to send music. This language may be the best we have for explaining what
we are like to others in space, with least ambiguity. I would vote for
Bach, all of Bach, streamed out into space, over and over again. We
would be bragging of course, but it is surely excusable to put the best
possible face on at the beginning of such an acquaintance. We can tell
the harder truths later.” – Lewis Thomas, ‘Ceti,’ “The Lives of a Cell”
niktemadur

Standing Far Back When The Gravitas Was Handed Out
bill50

BIG EAR
bill50

big EAR Earth Array Receiver
tw1515tw

The Hurry up (h) Array
Sooper8

I like Valerie…and on the opening day we could blast out ‘Valerie’ by the Zutons (or Amy Whitehouse if you prefer)
Adam S.

Very Very Large Array
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Smith/714041653 Jim Smith

Indis Array
Stargate

Seriously though everyone knows it as the VLA and it has the benefit of being descriptive.
noah django

God’s iPod
Rah El

The Alien Fishnet.
B A

Wok Town
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Smith/714041653 Jim Smith

Fixed Array of Radio Telescopes
Daemonworks

Recently Improved Relay
stib

Don’t know about a new name, but just looking at the wikipedia page, it could do with some lovin’. eg:

Popular culture

The image of the VLA has become nearly iconic in American culture,
though most persons do not know where it is located or what exactly it
does. But it has appeared in much of pop culture since its construction
borkbork

new Array[n..MAX_INT]
Andy Ribaudo

Jodie Foster’s Army
AlanJCastonguay

How about the Very Large Array.
- Andy Ribaudo
  
  That’s what I submitted on the VLA website — they give you an option to add a prefix to “Very Large Array” so I used “The” as my prefix.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Vaughn-Stegeman/100000427940388 Vaughn Stegeman

While I see no need to change the name really, I gotta boost the Carl Sagan Array (CSA) idea … He deserves it, and the VLA is an appropriate science instrument to honor him with.
Carl Sagan Array, vote it up!! :D :D
emo hex

Carl Sagan’s Kitchen
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Quinn/528943941 Tim Quinn

The Big Sky Camera
show me

Name it after Maggie – the Baker Interferometric Telescope Coordinating the Heavens.
http://www.facebook.com/JackMyersPhotography Jack Myers

Peter Johnson.
LucusAnon

“OFKAVLA”
(the Observatory Formerly Known As the Very Large Array).
LucusAnon

… or “ROFKAVLA”
(the Radioastronomy Observatory Formerly Known As the Very Large Array).
LucusAnon

“VLADIMIR”
(Very Large Array Definitively Improved by Major Infrastructure Replacement)
Corey Waldron

arraydiohead?

… Although in my heart I think Carl Sagan deserves the namesake for sure…
http://www.xradiograph.com/ OtherMichael

Drop the “Very” entirely, and recurse it: the VLA Large Array
Oskar Wallgren

Oskar