VLA - Pie Town Link

These two images of the quasar 3C84 are the first test of a new fiber-optic link between the Very Large Array and the Pie Town (PT) element of the Very Long Baseline Array. The image on the left shows the quasar as observed with the VLA only; the other image includes data from the PT antenna. Connecting the two arrays greatly enhances the resolving power of the VLA, that is, its ability to discern fine details of an object. Note the size difference of the images. The smaller image on the right demonstrates the improved resolution attained by the addition of the PT baseline. This fiber-optic link will enable astronomers to more accurately pinpoint the precise location of objects, and to detect interesting features that may otherwise go unnoticed, such as astrophysical jets or companion objects.

Legacy Astronomical Images

NRAO/AUI/NSF does not hold full copyright for this image. Contact the archivist for details.

Legacy Astronomical Image

3C84

J. Ulvestad, et al.

Very Large Array (VLA)

Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA)-Pie Town

1999-08-12

continuum

C

6 cm

5.0 GHz

RA 3:19:48.160, Dec: 41:30:42.100 (J2000)

0.001667 x 0.001667 degrees

Active Galactic Nuclei Series

Quasars Unit