Results are presented of the ground-based VLBI experiments conducted at RadioAstron frequencies between the VLBI sites Simeiz (RT-22)-Yevpatoria (RT-70) and Simeiz (RT-22)-Pushchino (RT-22).
В статье приводятся результаты наземных РСДБ экспериментов, выполненных на частотах проекта “РадиоАстрон”, между РСДБ пунктами Симеиз (РТ-22)Евпатория (РТ-70) и Симеиз (РТ-22)Пущино (РТ-22).
An experiment on VLBI radar of the 2012 DA14 asteroid was carried out on February 15–16, 2011 at the time of its closest approach to the Earth. The research teams of Kharkov (Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), Evpatoria (National Space Facilities Control and Test Center), Nizhny Novgorod (Radiophysical Research Institute), Bologna (Istituto di Radioastronomia (INAF)), and Ventspils (Ventspils International Radioastronomy Center) took part in the experiment. The asteroid was irradiated by the RT-70 planetary radar (Evpatoria) at a frequency of 5 GHz. The reflected signal was received using two 32-m radio telescopes in Medicina (Italy) and Irbene (Latvia) in radiointerferometric mode. The Doppler frequency shifts in bi-static radar mode and interference frequency in VLBI mode were measured. Accuracy of the VLBI radar method for determining the radial and angular velocities of the asteroid were estimated.
As part of the scientific cooperation between Ukraine and Russia, a series of studies on the preparation of the ground segment of the RadioAstron mission has been carried out. A scientific program of measurements to be performed using the 22-m RT-22 radio telescope (Crimean Astrophysical Observatory) has been prepared. A substantial part of this program is the study of compact structures in extragalactic sources. Ground-based VLBI test experiments at 6 and 18 cm intended for testing a model of the ground segments of the RadioAstron mission have been carried out at RT-22 of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in Simeiz and RT-70 (P-2500) in Evpatoriya. The processing of the data recorded by each antenna resulted in obtaining and calibrating responses of cross-correlation functions using the ASC LPI correlator. The results of the experiment demonstrate the readiness of RT-22 and RT-70 to participate in the ground-space radio interferometer sessions in the RadioAstron mission.