_                   
                                                         |_|                  
      V   V   SSSS   OOO   PPPP                 \__      |_|      __/         
      V   V  S      O   O  P   P                   --____/ \____--            
      V   V   SSS   O   O  PPPP                    _ _ _ --- _ _ _            
       V V       S  O   O  P                      |_|_|_|  @|_|_|_|           
        V    SSSS    OOO   P                             o-o                  
                                                          /                   
      ***  N    E    W    S  ***                        <)                    

COSPAR

There has been a slight change in the programming of the COSPAR meeting, with Symposium E1.3 `VSOP Results and the Future of Space VLBI' having been set back half a day. The symposium now runs for Friday afternoon and all of Saturday. A preliminary program for this meeting will be made available from the VSOP WWW site in the next couple of days -- see the What's New page for details. A reminder that the deadline for registration and accommodation is May 1st. Further details are available from http://COSPAR.isas.ac.jp/ .

SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT of OPPORTUNITY (AO2)

As described in AO2, the sun angle constraints to date have been stricter than first envisaged. Having examined the angular momentum build-up over a range of solar angles in recent observations, the VSOG has provisionally opened the sun angle ranges to 80--120 and 145--180 degrees. Proposers are reminded that AO2 proposals for observations outside the ranges given in AO2 may not be able to be done. (Proposers are also reminded to use the revised versions of the simulation software with the updated orbital parameters when planning their observations.)
Also, despite the welcome news of 22 GHz fringes, there is no change to A02 guidelines: only 1.6 and 5 GHz proposals will be accepted. In-orbit checkout tests of the 22 GHz system are on-going.

POLARIZATION

The VSOP Polarization Study Team (PST) has completed its initial investigation into polarization imaging and the impurity of the HALCA antenna/feed system. Based on two experiments conducted in late October 1997, the best estimates of RCP leakage into HALCA's LCP feed are approximately 10% at 5 GHz and 3% at 1.6 GHz. These values were determined using standard calibration procedures and existing software in AIPS. Further tests will be undertaken to investigate the degree of time variability of these results. A memo describing the PST's work will be posted on the VSOP WWW site this week. Those considering a polarization proposal are reminded to consult the polarization discussions in the AO and Proposer's Guide as well as the above-mentioned memo.

SAKURA

Until the Stop Press addition regarding 22 GHz fringes, the last issue of the VSOP news had noted that the recent meetings at ISAS had coincided with the picturesque cherry blossom season in Tokyo. This text was cut, Hirax observing that it was indeed appropriate that this seasonal description was sakura-ficed!

 
                Editors: Phil Edwards and Hirax Hirabayashi