1.5.6 Single baseline observations

Starting in 2001, you can use MERLIN to observe at 6-7 GHz, covering methanol and excited OH spectral lines. A dual polarization, cooled receiver (system temperature $T_{\rm sys} \approx 30$ K) is available on the Cambridge 32-m antenna, and an uncooled system ( $T_{\rm sys} \approx 140$ K) on the 25-m MkII antenna at Jodrell Bank. The distance between the two antennas is $\approx$200 km. See §4.4.3 for more observing details.

With a single baseline it is not possible to perform full imaging runs although it is possible to map point sources such as masers or generate fringe-rate maps (§3.10.3). It is possible to perform accurate astrometry. With appropriate calibrators MERLIN can obtain positions of sources accurate at the tens of milliarcsec level.