Progress and Results from the Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR)

• Published in: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
• Main Authors: Zhou, Xu, Ashley, M. C. B., Cui, Xiangqun, Feng, Longlong, Gong, Xuefei, Hu, Jingyao, Jiang, Zhaoji, Kulesa, C. A., Lawrence, J. S., Liu, Genrong, Luong-Van, D. M., Ma, Jun, Macri, Lucas M., Meng, Zeyang, Moore, A. M., Qin, Weijia, Shang, Zhaohui, Storey, J. W. V., Sun, Bo, Travouillon, T., Walker, C. K., Wang, Jiali, Wang, Lifan, Wang, Lingzhi, Wang, Songhu, Wu, Jianghua, Wu, Zhenyu, Xia, Lirong, Yan, Jun, Yang, Ji, Yang, Huigen, Yao, Yongqiang, Yuan, Xiangyan, York, D., Zhang, Hui, Zhang, Zhanhai, Zhou, Jilin, Zhu, Zhenxi, Zou, Hu
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2012
• Subjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics; Space and Planetary Science; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1743921312016936; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1743921312016936

Abstract In 2008 January the 24th Chinese expedition team successfully deployed the Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau. CSTAR consists of four 14.5cm optical telescopes, each with a different filter ( g , r , i and open) and has a 4.5°×4.5° field of view (FOV). Based on the CSTAR data, initial statistics of astronomical observational site quality and light curves of variable objects were obtained. To reach higher photometric quality, we are continuing to work to overcome the effects of uneven cirrus cloud cirrus, optical “ghosts” and intra-pixel sensitivity. The snow surface stability is also tested for further astronomical observational instrument and for glaciology studies.