Radio Astronomy Observations and Instrumentation Development at the Haystack Observatory

东北射电天文台公司（NEROC）是一个由13个教育和研究机构组成的非营利性联盟，负责运营干草堆天文台，用于射电天文谱线观测和甚长基线干涉测量（VLBI）。大约85%的射电望远镜时间和35%的VLBI处理器时间用于天文学。天文台及其设施对所有天文学家开放，大部分研究是由客座研究员进行的。该赠款将用于天文台37米射电望远镜的操作、维护和改进以及VLBI处理器上的天文操作。Haystack支持6mm至18cm波长范围内的观测，重点是在7mm和1.3 cm波长范围内使用其高灵敏度脉泽接收器。这些波段在美国提供了独特的强大的光谱线观测能力，在那里有价值的分子线发射测量，如硫化碳（CS）、氧化硅（SiO）、甲醇（CH3OH）、水（H2O）和氨（NH3），增强我们对恒星形成机制的理解以及我们银河系和外部星系的结构。虽然甚长基线阵列（VLBA）仍在建设中，但干草堆望远镜将继续支持VLBI网络观测和特别毫米波长实验。相关器将处理Mark III VLBI数据，包括来自早期VLBA天线的数据。这些测量提供了弱射电源的高分辨率地图。

The Northeast Radio Observatory Corporation (NEROC), a non-profit consortium of thirteen educational and research institutions, operates the Haystack Observatory for radio astronomical spectral-line observations and for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI). About 85% of the radio telescope time and 35% of the VLBI processor time are devoted to astronomy. The Observatory and its facilities are available to all astronomers and the majority of the research is conducted by guest investigators. The operation, maintenance and improvement of the Observatory's 37 meter radio telescope and the astronomy operations on the VLBI processor will be supported by the grant. Haystack supports observations in the 6mm to 18cm wavelength range, with emphasis on the use of its high sensitivity maser receivers at the 7 mm and 1.3 cm wavelength bands. These wavelength bands provide a uniquely powerful spectral-line observing capability in the U.S., where valuable measurements of molecular line emissions, such as from carbon sulfide (CS), silicon oxide (SiO), methanol (CH3OH), water (H2O),, and ammonia (NH3), enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of star formation and the structures of our galaxy and external galaxies. While the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) is still under construction, the Haystack telescope will continue to support VLBI Network observations and ad-hoc millimeter-wavelength experiments. The correlator will process Mark III VLBI data, including those from early VLBA antennas. These measurements provide high-resolution maps of weak radio sources.