Astronomy from the Antarctic Plateau: a global personal vision

• Published in: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
• Main Author: Zinnecker, Hans
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2009
• Subjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics; Space and Planetary Science; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1743921310010859; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1743921310010859

Abstract The Antarctic Plateau (Dome C, also Dome A) is emerging as an especially good sitefor astronomical observations (high, dry, cold, no wind, good free seeing above a certainboundary layer). Over the last few years, several meetings and conferences tookplace to discuss potential astrophysical science cases for such exceptional atmosphericconditions. I summarise my personal conclusions from these discussions and presenta global vision (roadmap) for Antarctic Astronomy for future optical, near-IR, thermal-IR, andfar-IR/sub-mm observations. The need for international collaboration between Europe, Australia and China is stressed.