High Precision Astrometry with VLBI: from the Triangle 1803+784/1928+738/2007+777 to the Complete S5 Polar Cap Sample

Abstract

The VLBI technique can image compact radio sources with resolutions of the order of the milliarcsecond and can determine astrometrically relative positions with submilliarcsecond precisions. We determined the angular separations among the radio sources in the triangle 1803+784/1928+738/2007+777 with submilliarcsecond accuracy from a weighted least squares analysis of the differential phases. The comparison of the estimated separation of the pair 1928+738/2007+777 with previous such estimates obtained from data at different epochs allowed us to align the maps of 1928+738 at diferent epochs relative to those of 2007+777, showing that the jet components of 1928+738 display proper motions, and suggesting an identification for the position of the core of this radio source. We have also observed astrometrically the complete S5 polar cap sample, that among the 13 sources within 20 degrees to the celestial North Pole includes the above 3. These observations are carried out in the framework of a long-term astrometric program to determine the absolute kinematics of radio sources in the S5 complete sample.