The Gattini cameras for optical sky brightness measurements at Dome C, Antarctica

• Main Authors: Moore, A., Aristidi, E., Ashley, M., Briguglio, R., Busso, M., Candidi, M., Everett, J., Kenyon, S., Lawrence, J., Le Roux, B., Luong-Van, D., Phillips, A., Ragazzoni, R., Salinari, P., Storey, J., Taylor, M., Tosti, G., Travouillon, T.
• Other Authors: Epchtein, N.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: unknown
• Published: EDP Sciences 2007
• Subjects: Alta; Antarctic; Paul-Emile Victor; Antarc*; Antarctica; antartic*; Antartide
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1051/eas:2007069

The Gattini cameras are two site testing instruments for the measurement of optical sky brightness, large area cloud cover and auroral detection of the night sky above the high altitude Dome C site in Antarctica. The cameras have been operating since installation in January 2006 and are currently at the end of the first Antarctic winter season. The cameras are transit in nature and are virtually identical both adopting Apogee Alta CCD detectors. By taking frequent images of the night sky we obtain long term cloud cover statistics, measure the sky background intensity as a function of solar and lunar altitude and phase and directly measure the spatial extent of bright aurora if present and when they occur. The full data set will return in December 2006 however a limited amount of data has been transferred via the Iridium network enabling preliminary data reduction and system evaluation. An update of the project is presented together with preliminary results from data taken since commencement of the winter season. © 2007 EAS, EDP Sciences. Published online: 23 May 2007. The Gattini team would like to thank greatly the following institutions for their continued support of the Gattini project: (1) PNRA (Program Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide); (2) IPEN (Institut Polaire Francais Paul Emile Victor) and PNRA staff assistance at the Condordia station; (3) The National Science Foundation for supply of and Iridium card and logistica assistance and (4) the Australian Antartica Division. Published - Moore2007p90632Nd_Arena_Conference_On_The_Astrophysical_Science_Cases_At_Dome_C.pdf