31. FAR-INFRARED AND SUB-MILLIMETER ASTRONOMY IN ANTARCTICA

• Main Authors: J. W. V. Storey (l, A. R. Hyl
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.68.1731; http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mgb/Antbib/anare_melb_jwvs.pdf

The wavelength range from 5 to 500 µm is one of the most technologically difficult for astronomers. For this reason, and also because of poor atmospheric transmission, the region has until recently been underexploited relative to, say, the radio and optical regions. To avoid the poor transmission and high emissivity of the atmosphere, astronomers have frequently resorted to balloons, stratospheric aircraft or even satellites to carry out the observations. The high altitude, extremely low temperatures and low humidity of the Antarctic plateau combine to make it potentially the best site on earth for far-infrared and sub-mm astronomy. Indeed, at some wavelengths, it is the only place on earth from which ground-based astronomy is possible. This research note reviews the current status of Antarctic astronomy in the far-infrared and sub-mm, and suggests potential areas for Australian involvement.