[ASA] Australian community access to the VLBA

[John O'Byrne]

We are pleased to announce that CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (CASS) has signed an agreement with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) that provides privileged scientific access for the Australian community to the NRAO Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). The excellent sensitivity, high resolution, and astrometric precision of the NRAO VLBA qualify it as the premier very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) instrument operating in the world today, enabling the global community to address a wide range of fundamental astrophysics problems.

To enable this VLBA access for our community, CASS will contribute $200K towards NRAO VLBA operations expenses. This commitment pre-dates the recent changes in the ATNF operating model and is budgeted in the current financial year.

Through this agreement, scientists at Australian institutions will have privileged access to 50 hours of VLBA observing time per year over two years for larger projects, beginning with the 2013A semester. This time will be granted by NRAO in addition to any observing time that is awarded to the Australian community via the scientific merit-based NRAO proposal evaluation and time allocation system.

Proposals seeking VLBA observing time under this agreement must have a PI based at an Australian astronomical institution. Larger proposals and collaborations are strongly encouraged. This agreement may also be used to initiate large projects and potentially leverage VLBA time in excess of the nominal 50 hours/year.

Requests for this observing time should be submitted for peer review via the standard NRAO proposal evaluation process, beginning at the Semester 2013A deadline on 1 August 2012. Proposers must notify the Australian LBA manager (Tasso.Tzioumis at csiro.au<mailto:Tasso.Tzioumis at csiro.au>) at the time of proposal submission and send him a copy of their proposal, signifying their intention to seek time under this NRAO-CSIRO agreement. The LBA manager can also facilitate and coordinate the formation of collaborations prior to the submission of proposals to the VLBA, if desired by the participants.

This CASS contribution to NRAO VLBA operations provides significant support for the scientific interests of the Australian astronomical community and important financial support for a unique NRAO research facility and capability.

regards

Douglas


Douglas Bock | Assistant Director – Operations
CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science
Australia Telescope National Facility
Phone: +61 2 9372 4276 | Mobile: +61 457 552 777 | douglas.bock at csiro.au<mailto:douglas.bock at csiro.au> 
P.O. Box 76, Epping NSW 1710