Canadian Spatial Reference System

VLBI - Canada's Role

The very first scientific paper written on the use of the VLBI technique was written by Canadians in March of 1967. The very first Canadian observations were made in 1968. Geodetic Survey of Canada operates a permanent VLBI site in Yellowknife, NWT and operated the site in Algonquin Park, Ontario up until 2006. The Division also owns a small, portable antenna that can be moved from site to site.

Algonquin Radio Observatory

Yellowknife antenna

There are 26 main VLBI sites worldwide that contribute to earth studies.

VLBI sites worldwide

(Image from VLBI Brochure)

Of these sites, the Algonquin telescope is considered to be amongst the top 5 in terms of data quality as a result of it's stable location on the Canadian shield. The Algonquin telescope is also the most sensitive antennae used to study geodesy in the world.