The gravitational lens J1131-1231 - How to avoid missing an opportunity

Abstract

So far the lens J1131-1231 has been studied only at optical and X-ray wavelengths. A detection in the radio was almost missed as a result of an incorrect position and archive problems. A direct analysis of NVSS uv data - in contrast to the catalogue or images alone - provided sufficient evidence of a detection to justify further radio investigations. The system was subsequently observed with MERLIN and the EVN in e-VLBI mode. Even though MERLIN seems to show the lensed star-forming regions and the compact cores, a preliminary analysis of the EVN data only shows an AGN in the lens itself but not the lensed cores. Additional VLA observations will be carried out soon.

3 pages. Proceedings of the "9th EVN Symposium on The role of VLBI in the Golden Age for Radio Astronomy", see http://pos.sissa.it/cgi-bin/reader/conf.cgi?confid=72 . Original poster with additional images and more information available at http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~wucknitz/publications/pub.php?2008_evn9_1131-1231