The Molonglo Observatory synthesis telescope

Modifications of the Cross radiotelescope of Molonglo Observatory are largely complete, and observations are being done again. A steerable telescope, necessary to obtain extended observing times and greater sensitivity, has been included, and other engineering design modifications include two east-west collinear reflectors each 778 m by 11.6 m and each divided into 44 sections of length 17.7 m. Practical differences between the fan beam form of rotational synthesis and the interferometric form are given, as well as several estimated performance specifications such as a center frequency of 843 MHz, an effective bandwidth of 3 MHz, and an effective antenna area of 9000 sq m, but more time is necessary in order to evaluate fully the radiotelescope performance. A scientific program attempting to measure the effective temperature of Uranus is outlined, and other early programs are mentioned, including the astrometry of currently unidentified radio sources, the photometry of a selection of bright galaxies, and observations of pulse shapes of some of the stronger pulsars.