2021/01/01 by Tara Murphy, David L. Kaplan, D. L. Kaplan +78
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Computer science #Galaxy #Geometry #Mathematics #Pathfinder #Physics #Pulsar #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Sky #Square (algebra) #Stars #Variable star #astro-ph.HE
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/pasa.2021.44
openalex publication_date 2021/01/01 · arxiv created 2021/08/13 · arxiv updated 2021/10/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract The Variables and Slow Transients Survey (VAST) on the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) is designed to detect highly variable and transient radio sources on timescales from 5 s to ∼ 5 yr. In this paper, we present the survey description, observation strategy and initial results from the VAST Phase I Pilot Survey. This pilot survey consists of ∼ 162 h of observations conducted at a central frequency of 888 MHz between 2019 August and 2020 August, with a typical rms sensitivity of 0.24 mJy beam-1 and angular resolution of 12-20 arcseconds. There are 113 fields, each of which was observed for 12 min integration time, with between 5 and 13 repeats, with cadences between 1 day and 8 months. The total area of the pilot survey footprint is 5 131 square degrees, covering six distinct regions of the sky. An initial search of two of these regions, totalling 1 646 square degrees, revealed 28 highly variable and/or transient sources. Seven of these are known pulsars, including the millisecond pulsar J2039–5617. Another seven are stars, four of which have no previously reported radio detection (SCR J0533–4257, LEHPM 2-783, UCAC3 89–412162 and 2MASS J22414436–6119311). Of the remaining 14 sources, two are active galactic nuclei, six are associated with galaxies and the other six have no multi-wavelength counterparts and are yet to be identified.