e-MERLIN Cycle-23 Call for Proposals open

e-MERLIN requests proposals from the international astronomical community for observations to be made during Cycle-23. 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:

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.

[e-MERLIN observations between February 1^st and July 31^st  2027 ]

                                             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-23. 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 beMailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from “urldefense.com” claiming to be www.evlbi.org [evlbi.org]. The next upcoming deadline for EVN proposal submission is October 1^st 2026. See notes attached to the full e-MERLIN Call for Proposals (link below) for further information regarding changes to the EVN mode of operation as from early 2027.l

See https://www.e-merlin.ac.uk/tools/e-MERLIN_Cycle_23_CfP.pdf [e-merlin.ac.uk] for a fuller version of this Cycle-23 Call for Proposals document

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