MERLIN
- Alternate uses, see Merlin.
The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an array of radio telescopes spread across Britain. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of PPARC as a National Facility.
The array consists of up to seven radio telescopes and includes the Lovell Telescope, MkII, Cambridge, Defford, Knockin, Darnhall and Pickmere (previously known as Tabley). The longest baseline is therefore 217km and MERLIN can operate at frequencies between 151 MHz and 24 GHz. At a wavelength of 6 cm (5 GHz frequency), MERLIN has a resolution of 40 milliarcseconds which is comparable to that of the HST at optical wavelengths.
Some of the telescopes are occasionally used for EVN and VLBI.
MERLIN currently uses microwave links to send astronomical data back from the remote stations. These links have a limited bandwidth so much of the data is thrown away. It is planned to replace the microwave links with optical fibre connections which will allow much more data to be sent to Jodrell Bank Observatory and this will increase the sensitivity of MERLIN by a factor of around 30. The upgrade project is called e-MERLIN.
Telescope Information
The following table lists information about each of the telescopes that make up the network.
| Antenna | Diameter | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defford | 25 m | +52:05:27.61 | +02:08:09.62 |
| Cambridge | 32 m | +52:10:06.48 | -00:02:23.25 |
| Darnhall | 25 m | +53:08:38.40 | +02:32:45.57 |
| Knockin | 25 m | +52:46:40.83 | +03:00:39.55 |
| MkII | 25 m | +53:13:51.62 | +02:18:34.16 |
| Lovell Telescope | 76 m | +53:14:10.50 | +02:18:25.74 |
| Pickmere | 25 m | +53:16:44.42 | +02:26:41.98 |
External links
- The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (http://www.merlin.ac.uk)