12. The measurement of the distance of the radio sources

Abstract

In radio astronomy it is becoming increasingly important to know the distance of the radio sources. An identification with astronomical objects observed optically is then more readily obtained and this in turn may allow further investigation of the mechanism of radio emission. A measurement of the distance of sources will also resolve the problem of their distribution in space, showing which are galactic and which are extra-galactic. Furthermore the surface area and absolute luminosity can be estimated from a knowledge of the distance and angular size of a source.