Site testing at Dome C: history and present status

• Published in: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
• Main Authors: Vernin, Jean, Agabi, Abdelkrim, Aristidi, Eric, Azouit, Max, Chadid, Merieme, Fossat, Eric, Sadibekova, Tatiana, Trinquet, Hervé, Ziad, Aziz
• Other Authors: Laboratoire Universitaire d'Astrophysique de Nice (LUAN), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Joseph Louis LAGRANGE (LAGRANGE), Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Département Fresnel (FRESNEL), Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Astrophysique Relativiste Théories Expériences Métrologie Instrumentation Signaux (ARTEMIS)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2006
• Subjects: [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]; Cara; Harper; South Pole; Antarc*; Antarctica; South pole
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-02480568; https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921307012288

International audience The idea of starting an astronomical site testing in Antarctica began during a congress organized by French Académie des Sciences, in 1992, and entitled ‘Recherches polaires-Une Stratégie pour l'an 2000’. At this time, one of us (Vernin 1994) gave a proposal for an astronomical site testing in Antarctica. This proposal was rapidly followed by a meeting between Al Harper (from ‘Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica’, Chicago), Peter Gillingham (from the Anglo Australian Observatory, Australia) and Jean Vernin (from Nice University) at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in 1993. It was decided to investigate what was the astronomical quality of South Pole station, each institute bringing its own participation: CARA, the South Pole infrastructure, University of New South Wales, a PhD student and Nice University its expertise and instruments.