The virtual telescope: RadioAstron & 27 ground-based radio telescopes (IMAGE)

Delft University of Technology

The virtual telescope: RadioAstron & 27 ground-based radio telescopes

Caption

Left: The RadioAstron Space VLBI mission combined a spaceborne radio telescope (Spektr-R) with 27 ground-based radio telescopes worldwide to create a virtual telescope five times the Earth’s diameter, in an observation of the enigmatic quasar OJ 287.
Right: Progressive zoom into OJ 287’s jet at increasing resolution.
Top: 15 GHz VLBA (18 pc scale).
Middle: 43 GHz VLBI (4.5 pc scale).
Bottom: 22 GHz RadioAstron (1.8 pc scale), revealing the ribbon-like structure with multiple sharp bends for the first time.

Credit

Juan Carlos Algaba, Universiti Malaya

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Original content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.