VSOP-2 the role of Hobart and Ceduna? Simon Ellingsen University of Tasmania Centre for Astrophysics of Compact Objects

VSOP-2 The role of Hobart and Ceduna? History The University of Tasmania operates two radio telescopes, one near Hobart in Tasmania, the other near Ceduna in South Australia. There is a strong history of collaboration between various Japanese research groups and UTAS : –VSOP/HALCA –SELENE VRAD experiment –Syowa Geodetic VLBI

VSOP-2 The role of Hobart and Ceduna? Current Capabilities Hobart operates over the frequency range 300 MHz - 25 GHz. –Pointing and surface accuracy mean higher frequency operation would require significant expenditure. Ceduna operates over the frequency range GHz. –No cryogenics, surface accuracy and optics limitations (subreflector and waveguide) mean higher frequency operation work would require significant expenditure.

VSOP-2 The role of Hobart and Ceduna? Availability/Flexibility Hobart and Ceduna are heavily utilised for VLBI, Flux Density monitoring, maser searches and student projects. Unique and high-impact projects such as VSOP-2 can easily be integrated into this program. Observations can be scheduled at relatively short notice, provided they don’t clash with LBA or other previously scheduled VLBI. Ceduna is operated remotely and probably best used primarily for 8 GHz observations.

VSOP-2 The role of Hobart and Ceduna? Operations Issues As University owned facilities Hobart and Ceduna have a very limited operations budget & staff: –3 academic staff (Dickey, Ellingsen & Johnston-Hollitt) –1 permanent technical staff (Reid) – contract technical staff –2 postdoctoral researchers –4 postgraduate students Degree of participation will depend on available funding, either direct, or leveraged

VSOP-2 The role of Hobart and Ceduna?

Mt Pleasant Observatory 14m (foreground) and 26m (background) radio telescopes

VSOP-2 The role of Hobart and Ceduna? Ceduna 30m radio telescope just prior to the 4 December 2002 solar eclipse.