AMICA – the infrared eye at Dome C

• Published in: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
• Main Authors: Riva, Alberto, Dolci, Mauro, Straniero, Oscar, Zerbi, Filippo Maria, Molinari, Emilio, Conconi, Paolo, De Caprio, Vincenzo, Valentini, Gaetano, Di Rico, Gianluca, Ragni, Maurizio, Pelusi, Danilo, Di Varano, Igor, Giuliani, Croce, Di Cianno, Amico, Valentini, Angelo, Bortoletto, Favio, D'Alessandro, Maurizio, Bonoli, Carlotta, Giro, Enrico, Fantinel, Daniela, Magrin, Demetrio, Corcione, Leonardo, Busso, Maurizio, Tosti, Gino, Nucciarelli, Giuliano, Roncella, Fabio, Abia, Carlos
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2006
• Subjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics; Space and Planetary Science; Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s174392130701232x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S174392130701232X

Amica ( A ntarctic M ultiband I nfrared C amera) is a dual-channel Infrared Imager (2-28μm), that will be located at the Nasmyth focus of the IRAIT telescope at Dome C. Dome C base, on Antarctic plateau offers an unique chance for infrared astronomy. It has several advantages like temperature, pressure and site environment. Temperature, around –60°C (mean) allows a good atmospheric stability (good seeing and good windows transparency) a low atmospheric background and the reduction of instrumental background. Pressure (equivalent of 4000 m a.s.l.), implies low content of water vapors; this means higher transmission, broader and new astronomical windows. The site offers the possibility of very long observations (about 6 months winter night).