In a magnetic resonance imaging system, an extended field of view through an object is realized with a magnet having a smaller homogeneous field of view by translating the object through the homogeneous field while exciting nuclear spins within the object and detecting MRI signals with a plurality of coils which translate through the homogeneous field with the object. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of receiver coils overlap. The table and object can continuously move through the homogeneous volume during nuclear excitation and MRI signal detection. A computer adjusts the MRI signals for the effect of changes in table position between signal acquisitions and compensate for phase shift in received signals.