Mid-Infrared Observing Conditions at the South Pole

• Main Authors: Matthew A. Chamberlain, Michael C. B. Ashley, Michael G. Burton, John W. V. Storey, Andre Phillips, Maxime Boccas, Antony E. Schinckel
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2000
• Subjects: Amundsen Scott South Pole Station; Amundsen-Scott; Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station; Antarctic; South Pole; The Antarctic; Antarc*; South pole
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.296.3700; http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jacara/Papers/pdf/asa98_mism.pdf

The Antarctic plateau is the optimum ground based site for infrared astronomy. Low levels of precipitable water vapour and high altitude combine to improve atmospheric transmission. Lower emissivity and cold temperatures produce lower background levels for infrared observations than possible at temp...