1.2 Observing procedure

In order to maximise efficiency of operation, flexibility in the scheduling of MERLIN is essential and observations will normally not be scheduled in detail more than a few days in advance. One exception is experiments requiring simultaneous or contemporaneous observations involving MERLIN and other instruments. There are specific procedures for applying for observing time using MERLIN as part of a VLBI experiment (§2.1.1). In general, observers are not expected to be present for their own observations: selection of calibration sources, scheduling and execution of the observations is done by the MERLIN operations team. However, if observers do wish to be present every effort will be made to schedule the observations at a convenient time (§2.4).

The standard observing procedure is to reference the target source every few minutes to a phase calibrator within a few degrees. System parameters are calibrated using observations of unresolved sources whose flux densities are calculated daily by reference to bright non-variable sources (usually 3C286).

It is customary for observers to come to Jodrell Bank to process their data. New observers will find this particularly helpful (§1.6).