Proposal code

w053

Proposal title

Exploring limits to Space VLBI astrometry: the pair 1308+326,8

The

Investigators and their

Affiliations

P.I. M.J.Rioja Istituto di Radioastronomia, Bologna, ITALY
R.W.Porcas MPIfR, Bonn, GERMANY
H. Hirabayashi ISAS, Kanagawa, JAPAN
Y. Asaki NAO, JAPAN
J. Machalski Obs. Jagellonian Uni,Cracow, POLAND

Proposal Abstract

Observations of close source pairs with VSOP provide a unique opportunity to test the capabilities and limits of Space VLBI relative astrometry. Although VSOP cannot change pointing rapidly, close separation pairs can be investigated if both sources are within the VSOP primary beam. From observations of the close (33'') pair 1038+52A,B in November 1997 (with both sources in the GRT beams also) we have successfully transferred the VSOP instrumental phase found from one source to the other and have thus been able to make a phase-referenced map. Now we wish to extend our investigations by observing the source pair 1308+326/8, with angular separation 14 arcmin; both are in the VSOP beam at 1.6 and 5 GHz, but require switching with the GRTs. We will investigate the extent to which orbit errors propagate into the ground-space VLBI visibility difference phases, and how these might be used to refine the satellite position.

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 AO2 proposals were submitted in May 1998, 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.