Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network
Quick Summary
The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is a powerful radio telescope array located in the southern part of England, United Kingdom. It is operated by the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories at Jodrell Bank. MERLIN utilizes seven antennas, connected by fiber-optic links, that can be separated by up to 217 kilometers (135 miles). This configuration allows it to achieve a high resolution, enabling the study of compact radio sources associated with quasars and cosmic masers with a resolution of a few hundredths of an arc second. MERLIN is part of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, which also houses the Lovell Telescope, one of the world's largest fully steerable radio telescopes.12
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