Citation
Abstract
Correlated flux densities of extragalactic radio sources in the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) astrometric catalog are required for the VLBI tracking of Galileo, Mars Observer, and future missions. A system to produce correlated and total flux density catalogs has been developed to meet these requirements. A correlated flux density catalog of 274 sources, accurate to about 20 percent, has been derived from more than 5000 DSN VLBI observations at 2.3 GHz (S-band) and 8.4 GHz (X-band) using 43 VLBI radio reference frame experiments during the period 1989-1992. Various consistency checks have been carried out to ensure the accuracy of the correlated flux densities. All observations were made on the California—Spain and California—Australia DSN baselines using the Mark II wideband data acquisition system. A total flux density catalog, accurate to about 20 percent, with data on 150 sources, has also been created. Together, these catalogs can be used to predict source strengths to assist in the scheduling of VLBI tracking passes. In addition, for those sources with sufficient observations, a rough estimate of source structure parameters can be made.
Details
- Volume
- 42-111
- Published
- November 15, 1992
- Pages
- 118–128
- File Size
- 599.7 KB