A wide range of scientific programs, from the classic observation of jets in active galactic nuclei, to position measurements of gamma-ray bursters, and movies of supernovae and extended stellar atmospheres are possible with this integrated telescope which provides images and astrometry on milliarcsecond scales.

The simplest observations are those of strong continuum sources at centimeter wavelengths; these are even easier than VLA observations of similar sources, since a-priori amplitude calibration is used, and the source serves as its own phase calibrator. Observations of weak sources are readily accomplished using the technique of phase referencing, exactly analogous to the standard observing technique at the VLA. Details are described in VLBA Scientific Memo No. 24, Strategies for Phase Referencing with the VLBA.

To learn more about the general capabilities of the VLBA, check out the Observational Status Summary in html, postscript, or pdf.

Detailed information on all aspects of VLBI and use of the VLBA can be found in the proceedings of the 1993 NRAO summer school published as ASP Conference Series Volume 82, "Very Long Baseline Interferometry and the VLBA."

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.