Observing time calls

Radio astronomical observatories typically follow different Open Skies policies. Instead of restricting researchers and students to only have access to observatories owned or operated by their institute or their country, the international astronomical community aims to promote excellence and openness by allocating various amounts of national and international telescope access based on observing time proposals by researchers from any institution or country.

Here are listed some of the major radio astronomical telescopes or networks offering observing time under an Open Sky policy, whether by periodic observing time calls or some other way of offering access to new, scientifically merited projects.

Radio telescopes participating in the European VLBI Network. — Some of the stations in the European VLBI Network. Image: Paul Boven / JIVE; satellite Image: Blue Marble Next Generation, courtesy of NASA Visible Earth.

Observations with Metsähovi's radio telescopes

Metsähovi's radio telescopes are in use around the clock, every day of the year. Main operating modes are single-dish continuum observations (used mainly for long-term monitoring campaigns related to active galaxies and the Sun), and joint observations within Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) networks. MRO is part of the European VLBI Network (EVN) and the Global mm-VLBI Array (GMVA), and the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS).

Due to our emphasis on continuous and long-term monitoring programmes, MRO does not publish calls for proposals for new projects, but we are often able to carry out observing requests as part of our normal operations. If you are interested in using MRO telescopes or other equipment for your research, contact us to determine if the observations can be included in our ongoing observing schedule or carried out in a separate session if our commitments to ongoing monitoring programmes allow it.

National support for astronomers interested in radio-frequency observations

Metsähovi Radio Observatory is the only radio observatory in Finland, but radio astronomical research is not limited to us. The extreme angular resolutions, superb sensitivity, and spectral coverage of several orders of magnitude offered by radio telescopes and networks around the world can be helpful in solving various research questions.

At the same time, however, the technical requirements involving choosing the most suitable frequencies, instruments and observing modes can keep the threshold high for the potential new user.

In addition to operating the radio telescopes at MRO, Metsähovi's radio astronomers are also experienced in writing successful observing time applications for other instruments and networks, as well as experienced in reviewing applications within national and international time-allocation committees.

If you are an astronomer working in Finland, interested in radio observations but looking for an expert support in getting you started, we are happy to discuss your project or observing plan from a radio-astronomical point of view.

Contact persons:

Tuomas Savolainen, Senior Scientist -- interferometry- and VLBI-related topics,
Merja Tornikoski, Senior Scientist -- single-dish radio astronomy
Email metsahovi at aalto.fi -- all other inquiries

Contact persons for national support

Very Long Baseline Interferometry networks

(Not a comprehensive list.)

Instrument / network	Frequency range	Proposal deadlines
European VLBI Network - EVN (global)	1 - 43 GHz	Feb 1^st, June 1^st,Oct 1^st
Global mm-VLBI Array - GMVA (global)	43, 86 GHz	Feb 1^st, Aug 1^st
Very Long Baseline Array - VLBA (USA)	0.4 - 86 GHz	Feb 1^st, Aug 1^st
Long Baseline Array - LBA (Australia)	1 - 22 GHz	Mid-June, mid-December
East Asian VLBI Network - EAVN (China, Japan, South Korea)	6.7, 22, 43 GHz	June, November
Korean VLBI Network - KVN (South Korea)	22 - 129 GHz	June, November

Connected-element interferometry

(Not a comprehensive list.)

Instrument	Frequency range	Proposal deadlines
Jansky Very Large Array - VLA (USA)	70 - 82 MHz, 224 - 480 MHz, 1 - 50 GHz	Feb 1^st, Aug 1^st
ALMA (Chile)	84 - 950 GHz	Once per year, typically in March
e-Merlin (UK)	1.5, 5, 22 GHz	Twice per year (late spring, late fall)
IRAM - NOEMA (France)	86, 150, 230 GHz	Mid-March and mid-September
LOFAR (Netherlands / Europe)	10 - 90 MHz, 110 - 190 MHz	Early March, and early September
ATCA (Australia)	1 - 105 GHz	Mid-June, mid-December
MeerKAT (South Africa)	0.6 - 1.7 GHz	Periodically
SMA (USA)	230, 345, 400 GHz	March, September

Individual radio telescopes

(Not a comprehensive list.)

Instrument	Frequency range	Proposal deadlines
Green Bank 100-m (USA)	0.3 - 116 GHz	Feb 1^st, Aug 1^st
IRAM 30-m (Spain)	73 - 350 GHz	Mid-March and mid-September
Yebes 40-m (Spain)	21 - 90 GHz	January, June
Effelsberg 100-m (Germany)	0.3 - 95 GHz	Feb 1^st, Jun 1^st, Oct 1^st
LMT 50-m (Mexico)	73 - 280 GHz	Twice per year
Parkes 64-m (Australia)	0.7 - 4 GHz	Mid-June, mid-December
Mopra 22-m (Australia)	16 - 117 GHz	Mid-June, mid-December
INAF telescopes; Medicina 32-m, Noto 32-m, Sardinia 64-m (Italy)	0.3 - 26 GHz (SRT), 1 - 22 GHz (MC), 2 - 43 GHz (NT)	Early April, early October
APEX 12-m (Chile)	196 - 850 GHz	ESO: March, September; OSO: twice per year - typically April, November
Nobeyama 45-m (Japan)	20 - 116 GHz	Periodically
Onsala 20-m (Sweden)	18 - 116 GHz	Late fall

Updated: 1.7.2021
Published: 28.1.2021

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