The use of the Long Baseline Array in Australia for precise geodesy and absolute astrometry

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the Australian Long Baseline Array can achieve millimeter-level station positioning and milliarcsecond-level source localization, enhancing geodesy and astrometry capabilities through a novel data analysis approach.

Contribution

It introduces a new technique for data analysis that improves station position accuracy and expands VLBI observations to previously unobserved sources using the LBA network.

Findings

Station positions determined with 4-30mm accuracy

New VLBI sources observed with 2-5 mas precision

LBA can conduct absolute astrometry surveys with better than 5 mas accuracy

Abstract

We report the results of a successful 12 hour 22 GHz VLBI experiment using a heterogeneous network that includes radio telescopes of the Long Baseline Array (LBA) in Australia and several VLBI stations that regularly observe in geodetic VLBI campaigns. We have determined positions of three VLBI stations, ATCA-104, CEDUNA and MOPRA, with an accuracy of 4-30mm using a novel technique of data analysis. These stations have never before participated in geodetic experiments. We observed 105 radio sources, and amongst them 5 objects which have not previously been observed with VLBI. We have determined positions of these new sources with the accuracy of 2-5 mas. We make conclusion that the LBA network is capable of conducting absolute astrometry VLBI surveys with accuracy better than 5 mas.