Terahertz Initiatives at the Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO)
The Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO) is a 1.7-meter diameter offset Gregorian instrument located at the NSF Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. This site is exceptionally dry and cold, providing opportunities for Terahertz observations from the ground. Preliminary ana...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Other Authors: | |
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2002
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Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.316.7971 http://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0205358v2.pdf |
Summary: | The Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory (AST/RO) is a 1.7-meter diameter offset Gregorian instrument located at the NSF Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. This site is exceptionally dry and cold, providing opportunities for Terahertz observations from the ground. Preliminary analysis of recent site testing results shows that the zenith transparency of the 1.5 THz atmospheric window at South Pole frequently exceeds 10 % during the Austral winter. Routine observations at 810 GHz have been conducted over the past two years, resulting in large-scale maps of the Galactic Center region and measurements of the 13 C line in molecular clouds. During the next two years, the observatory plans to support two Terahertz instruments: |
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