Proposal code

v032

Proposal title

Quasar Phase-Reference Mapping and Astrometry with VSOP

The

Investigators and their

Affiliations

P.I. J.C. Guirado Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA
R.A. Preston Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USA
J.-F. Lestrade Observatoire de Meudon, France
J.M. Marcaide, M. Perez Universitat de Valencia, Spain

Proposal Abstract

Observations of strong, closely-spaced, quasar pairs are the best suited to study the capabilities and limitations of VSOP for phase-reference mapping and differential astrometry. We propose 5 GHz observations of the pair 1342+662/1342+663 and 5 and 1.6 GHz observations of the pair 4C39.25/0920+390 as a means to (i) test the phase-reference mapping techniques at different frequencies and geometric configurations, and (ii) improve the present precision of the ground-based astrometry via the combination of simultaneous VLBA astrometry and VSOP+VLBA maps of the radio sources. Knowledge of VSOP capabilities in these areas is key to use of these techniques later in this mission and in future space VLBI missions. In addition, the observations in the proposal will permit us to measure unambiguously the proper motion of component b in 4C39.25 as well as obtain high resolution images of all the observed radio sources.

The full Cover Sheets (compressed post-script, typically 50kbytes) can be retrieved. Note that many proposals were reduced in extent by the Scientific Review Committee (e.g. by reducing the number of experiments), however the Cover Sheets contain the full proposal as submitted. Also note that AO1 proposals were submitted in November 1995, and information such as affiliations and contact details has changed for some proposers since that time. The Cover Sheets (and the details on this page, which were derived from the Cover Sheets) may therefore have changed.