About Mizusawa VLBI Observatory

This project formed a giant VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) observational network across Japan by combining observational data from 20-m radio telescopes erected in 4 locations around the country (Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture; Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture; Ogasawara, Tokyo; and Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture.) This network conducts observations to measure the positions of celestial objects in the Milky Way Galaxy with high precision. The positions of stars appear to shift due to the orbital motion of the Earth around the Sun (annual parallax). Using this parallax we can accurately determine the distance to a star, while at the same time researching the motion of the Milky Way Galaxy. Remote observations using the 4 radio telescopes are controlled from Mizusawa Campus, and the observational data is combined and correlated in the Mizusawa Correlation Center. Research on active galactic nuclei located in the centers of other galaxies is also progressing through high precision measurements. Collaborative research with universities is ongoing, utilizing various radio telescopes: Yamaguchi University (32-m) and Ibaraki University (Takahagi 32-m and Hitachi 32-m).

The project also advances VLBI observations throughout Japan via cooperation with various observation facilities: JAXA (Usuda 64-m) and radio telescopes belonging to local universities (for example: Gifu University’s 11-m telescope).

Mizusawa VLBI Observatory promotes international collaboration with countries in East Asia. Observations combining VERA and three KVN (Korean VLBI Network) radio telescopes located in South Korea are in operation as KaVA (KVN and VERA Array). Additionally, the project also operates the East Asian VLBI Network through cooperation with Chinese organizations operating telescopes in Shanghai, Urumqi, and Kunming. To this end, Mizusawa VLBI Observatory is investing in the Japan-Korea Joint VLBI Correlator at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. This correlator is playing an important role as the main correlation center for VLBI observations in the East Asia region.