Observations
The observer doesn't have to do anything; NRAO staff will perform all the tasks necessary to run the VLBA!

Correlation, Data Validation and Distribution
NRAO staff will perform the data processing on the VLBA correlator, confirm the quality of the correlator output, and distribute the data to the observer. Correlation and data-distribution parameters are derived from the original schedule file. The default data distribution media are either DDS3 (DAT) or ftp from the web page. Multiple FITS-format files are included, corresponding to the multiple correlator job scripts that were used to process the data. A single FITS file is archived for each requency setup of each run. These have names like: BT070A=FPOL4IF8MHZ32CH_15.3495GHZ02. Users should be aware that the proprietary period of data ownership for VLBA observations changed in early 2004; it now is 12 months from the time the correlated data are released.

Introduction Why use the VLBA? How to propose Proposal selection: refereeing and observing allocation Schedule preparation Observations, correlation, data validation, and distribution Calibration Final imaging and analysis Staff collaboration, financial support for data reduction, scientific results and publications, graduate student programs

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.