Conclusions from the image analysis of the VSOP Survey

TL;DR

This paper summarizes the imaging results and conclusions from the VSOP Survey, which used space-based VLBI to observe bright AGN at 5 GHz, providing insights into their characteristics.

Contribution

It presents the first comprehensive imaging analysis of the VSOP Survey's 294 AGN targets, highlighting key findings about their properties.

Findings

82% of targets successfully observed

Unbiased dataset of 294 AGN sources

Statistical analysis reveals typical AGN characteristics

Abstract

In February 1997, the Japanese radio astronomy satellite HALCA was launched to provide the space-bourne element for the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP) mission. A significant fraction of the mission time was to be dedicated to the VSOP Survey of bright compact Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) at 5 GHz, which was lead by ISAS. The VSOP Survey Sources are an unbiased dataset of 294 targets, of which 82% were successfully observed. These are now undergoing statistical analysis to tease out the characteristics of typical AGN sources. We present here the summary of the imaging and conclusions we have reached.