Site Testing At Dome C: History, Present Status & Futur

• Main Authors: Vernin, J., Agabi, A., Aristidi, E., Azouit, M., Chadid-Vernin, M., Fossat, E., Sadibekova, T., Ziad, A.
• Other Authors: Joseph Louis LAGRANGE (LAGRANGE), Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (. - 2019) (UNS), COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Astrophysique Interprétation Modélisation (AIM (UMR_7158 / UMR_E_9005 / UM_112)), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2006
• Subjects: [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]; South Pole; Antarc*; Antarctica; South pole
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02678379

International audience Here we present why we decided to undertake a site characterization at Dome C, Antarctica following a first step made at South Pole. It was clear that poor seeing measured at South Pole was mainly due to ground catabatic wind interacting with strong vertical temperature (refractive index) gradient. Thus, we though to move to Dome C where no catabatic wind is expected. We will recall the history of this long adventure. Then we will present the more recent results which concern daytime observations as well as nighttime observations, as measured by DIMM, balloons, GSM and SSS. From this database and the very special vertical distribution fo the optical turbulence at Dome C, we will present some strong implications for High Angular Resolution astronomy at Dome C.