Encouraging the International Development of Antarctic Astronomy
The Antarctic plateau provides the best site conditions on the Earth for a wide range of astronomical observations, both of photons and particles. This is a result of the unique combination of cold, dry and tenuous air found only there. Wintertime temperatures average below -60˚C, with minimal diurn...
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1997
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0251107x00011251 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0251107X00011251 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0251107x00011251 2024-03-03T08:37:51+00:00 Encouraging the International Development of Antarctic Astronomy Burton, M.G. 1997 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0251107x00011251 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0251107X00011251 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Transactions of the International Astronomical Union volume 23, issue 1, page 48-50 ISSN 0251-107X journal-article 1997 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0251107x00011251 2024-02-08T08:44:49Z The Antarctic plateau provides the best site conditions on the Earth for a wide range of astronomical observations, both of photons and particles. This is a result of the unique combination of cold, dry and tenuous air found only there. Wintertime temperatures average below -60˚C, with minimal diurnal variation, the precipitable water vapour content is below 250 μm, the katabatic wind is low on top of the plateau and there are no jet streams at high altitude. The vast quantities of pure ice can be used as an absorber for particle detectors. Secondary benefits include continuous viewing for any source visible, lack of pollution and dust in the atmosphere, and low electromagnetic interference. Considerable activity is now focussed at the South Pole on developing facilities for astronomy. Initial investigations of higher sites have begun, particularly at Dome C. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic South pole South pole Cambridge University Press Antarctic The Antarctic South Pole Transactions of the International Astronomical Union 23 1 48 50 |
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Cambridge University Press |
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English |
description |
The Antarctic plateau provides the best site conditions on the Earth for a wide range of astronomical observations, both of photons and particles. This is a result of the unique combination of cold, dry and tenuous air found only there. Wintertime temperatures average below -60˚C, with minimal diurnal variation, the precipitable water vapour content is below 250 μm, the katabatic wind is low on top of the plateau and there are no jet streams at high altitude. The vast quantities of pure ice can be used as an absorber for particle detectors. Secondary benefits include continuous viewing for any source visible, lack of pollution and dust in the atmosphere, and low electromagnetic interference. Considerable activity is now focussed at the South Pole on developing facilities for astronomy. Initial investigations of higher sites have begun, particularly at Dome C. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Burton, M.G. |
spellingShingle |
Burton, M.G. Encouraging the International Development of Antarctic Astronomy |
author_facet |
Burton, M.G. |
author_sort |
Burton, M.G. |
title |
Encouraging the International Development of Antarctic Astronomy |
title_short |
Encouraging the International Development of Antarctic Astronomy |
title_full |
Encouraging the International Development of Antarctic Astronomy |
title_fullStr |
Encouraging the International Development of Antarctic Astronomy |
title_full_unstemmed |
Encouraging the International Development of Antarctic Astronomy |
title_sort |
encouraging the international development of antarctic astronomy |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1997 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0251107x00011251 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0251107X00011251 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic South Pole |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic South Pole |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic South pole South pole |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic South pole South pole |
op_source |
Transactions of the International Astronomical Union volume 23, issue 1, page 48-50 ISSN 0251-107X |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0251107x00011251 |
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Transactions of the International Astronomical Union |
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23 |
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1 |
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48 |
op_container_end_page |
50 |
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1792502242873442304 |