Description:

The Variables and Slow Transients Survey (VAST) on the Australian
Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) is designed to detect highly
variable and transient radio sources on timescales from 5 s to 5
yr. We present the survey description, observation strategy and
initial results from the VAST Phase I Pilot Survey. This pilot survey
consists of ~162 h of observations conducted at a central frequency of
888 MHz between 2019 August and 2020 August, with a typical rms
sensitivity of 0.24 mJy/beam, angular resolution of 12-20 arcseconds,
and 5-13 repeats covering 5000 square degrees. An initial search of
1646 square degrees revealed 28 highly variable and/or transient
sources, including known pulsars, flaring stars, active galactic
nuclei, and sources with no multi-wavelength counterpart. Targeted
searches including circular polarization of the Galactic Center and
Magellanic Clouds further identified a Galactic Center Radio Transient
and a very luminous pulsar. We discuss these findings and plans for a
full 5-year survey which started in late 2022.

 David Kaplan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Host: Professor Giacomo Fragione