CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility will hold its 7th Synthesis Imaging School on 10 - 14 October 2005 at the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) near Narrabri NSW. The format will be similar to previous Schools with a special emphasis on millimetre interferometry. There will be lectures by radio astronomers and engineers as well as practical sessions involving ATCA observing and data reduction. The intended audience is postgraduate students and other interested researchers. No prior experience with radio astronomy is required. Participants are encouraged to present a poster describing their research.

Key topics:

• Fundamentals of a radio interferometer
• Synthesis Imaging
• Australia Telescope Compact Array
• Specialized Observing Modes
• Atmospheric Effects and Data Calibration
• Techniques for millimetre wavelength observations
• Practical Sessions: Observing and Data Reduction
• Outlook to the next generation of interferometers - SKA and ALMA

Scientific organising committee:

Kate Brooks (Chair), Ilana Klamer, Enno Middelberg, Roopesh Ojha, Bob Sault, Tony Wong

Venue:

Australia Telescope Compact Array, Narrabri, NSW Australia

Date:

10 - 14 October 2005

Website:

http://www.atnf.csiro.au/synthesis

Enquiries:

For any questions, please send an email to . To stay tuned, please subscribe to our mailing list. Instructions on how to do this can be found two paragraphs further down, under "Expression of interest".

Registration:

The registration fee is $220 ($160 for students) and covers all lunches as well as two dinner events. Registration opens on 1 July 2005 and closes 10 Sep 2005. Attendance will be limited to 35 people.

Expression of interest:

If you would like to receive further information via e-mail please send an email to with only the word "subscribe" IN THE BODY; the subject of this email will be ignored by our system. For ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, please refer to the email address given under "Enquiries" two paragraphs up on this page.

Poster contributions:

All participants are encouraged to bring a poster (A0 format) describing their research. The posters will be on display in the Visitors Centre during the school. There will be a special session in the lecture program devoted to viewing the posters. The best poster (in terms of design and presentation as well as scientific content) will be awarded a prize.

Important dates:

• 2 Apr 2005 First Announcement
• 1 Jul 2005 Second Announcement + Open Registration
• 10 Sep 2005 Close Registration
• 10 Oct 2005 School Commences

Student assistance:

Students will be able to request assistance to attend the school on the registration form. The assistance will include a contribution towards the "cabins"-style accommodation during the school. For students from outside NSW/ACT, the equivalent of a return bus or airfare (depending on distances involved) from your city/town to Sydney may be available.

Travel and accommodation:

Narrabri is 530km north-west of Sydney, an 8 hour drive. It can be reached by air (QantasLink) and rail (CountryLink) from Sydney.

Accommodation will be in Narrabri motels as well as economical "cabins" in a Narrabri caravan park. If necessary, transport will be provided each day between the township and the ATCA site. Although accomodation will be organised for attendees, you will be responsible for paying the motel or caravan park directly.

Promotional Materials

Please bring this school to the attention of anyone else who may be interested. A poster for displaying on departmental notices is available as PDF file from here.