e-MERLIN Cycle-22 Call for Proposals

e-MERLIN/VLBI National Radio Astronomy Facility

Invitation for Proposals: Cycle-22

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals:

13:59:59 UT on 21^st May 2026

Full Details: https://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/observe.html [e-merlin.ac.uk]

e-MERLIN requests proposals from the international astronomical community for observations to be made during Cycle-22. Proposals are competitively peer-reviewed under standard STFC rules by the e-MERLIN Time Allocation Committee. Awards for accepted proposals will be made on the basis of scientific merit and technical feasibility alone.

e-MERLIN Science: e-MERLIN observations address a broad range of science topics,https://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/science.html [e-merlin.ac.uk] and its unique combination of angular resolution (mas) and sensitivity (microJy) provide crucial insights in multiple science areas including:

Star-formation and black hole growth in galaxies.
The physical processes which govern the formation of stars.
The modes of activity in nearby galaxies.
Transient radio sources.
Radio spectral lines (masers and in absorption).
The energetic processes in relativistic outflows from jets generated by black holes and compact objects.
Along with multiple other applications.

e-MERLIN provides high angular resolution (12 – 150 milli-arcsec) and high sensitivity (micro-Janksy) imaging at cm wavelengths as well as polarimetry, spectroscopy, and astrometry. e-MERLIN is an SKA-pathfinder instrument providing observations with resolutions and frequencies comparable to those that will be provided by SKA-mid.

Cycle-22 e-MERLIN Capabilities

[e-MERLIN observations between August 1st 2026 and January 31st, 2027 ]

Deadline for Receipt of Proposals:

13:59:59 UT on 21^st May 2026

Ang. res. Sensitivity

L-band (1.25 – 1.75 GHz) ~150 mas ~12 uJy/bm*

C-band (4.5 – 7.5 GHz) ~ 40 mas ~10 uJy/bm*

K-band (19 – 25 GHz) ~12 mas ~130 uJy/bm

* Assumes inclusion of the Lovell Telescope at L/C-band and a full imaging track (~12hrs including calibration). It is envisaged that a limited amount of Lovell time will be available for programmes during Cycle-21. The full invitation for proposals, including technical specifications, and links to the e-MERLIN Sensitivity Calculator are available at: www.e-merlin.ac.uk/observe.html [e-merlin.ac.uk].

Access for e-MERLIN Scientists and Users: e-MERLIN is open to all users with projects allocated solely on the basis of scientific merit and technical feasibility. For further information please contact e-MERLIN staff (emerlin@jb.man.ac.uk).

EVN + e-MERLIN Observations: The full integration of e-MERLIN telescopes within the European VLBI Network is also available. This mode of observing provides e-MERLIN’s additional ‘short-spacing’ (10 – 200 km) component available to the EVN which allows imaging of a wider range of spatial scales. Proposals for e-MERLIN + EVN observations should be made via the EVN Programme Committee rather than through e-MERLIN directly. The next Call for EVN Proposals (including combined e-MERLIN + EVN observations) is detailed at MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from “urldefense.com” claiming to be MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from “urldefense.com” claiming to be www.evlbi.org [evlbi.org]. The next upcoming deadlines for EVN proposal submission are June 1^st, October 1^st 2026 and February 1^st 2027.

See https://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/tools/e-MERLIN_Cycle_22_CfP.pdf [e-merlin.ac.uk] for a fuller version of this Cycle-22 Call for Proposals document

e-MERLIN proposals must follow dual-anonymisation guidelines and include additional information in the proposal submission. `See: https://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/observe.html [e-merlin.ac.uk] for full details and update notes on Cycle-22 proposal submission.

e-MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, The University of Manchester,
Jodrell Bank Observatory,
Macclesfield,
Cheshire SK11 9DL,
United Kingdom
emerlin@jb.man.ac.uk

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