Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B
The Antarctic plateau contains the best sites on earth for many forms of astronomy, but none of the existing bases was selected with astronomy as the primary motivation. In this article, we try to systematically compare the merits of potential observatory sites. We include South Pole, Domes A, C., a...
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ftmacquarieunicr:oai:https://researchers.mq.edu.au:publications/43704f94-041d-44ad-8dbc-7766600a240e 2024-09-15T17:46:01+00:00 Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B Saunders, Will Lawrence, Jon S. Storey, John W V Ashley, Michael C B Kato, Seiji Minnis, Patrick Winker, David M. Liu, Guiping Kulesa, Craig 2009-09 application/pdf https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/43704f94-041d-44ad-8dbc-7766600a240e https://doi.org/10.1086/605780 https://research-management.mq.edu.au/ws/files/62172765/Publisher%20version%20(open%20access).pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349334524&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Saunders , W , Lawrence , J S , Storey , J W V , Ashley , M C B , Kato , S , Minnis , P , Winker , D M , Liu , G & Kulesa , C 2009 , ' Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B ' , Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific , vol. 121 , no. 883 , pp. 976-992 . https://doi.org/10.1086/605780 article 2009 ftmacquarieunicr https://doi.org/10.1086/605780 2024-09-04T23:52:01Z The Antarctic plateau contains the best sites on earth for many forms of astronomy, but none of the existing bases was selected with astronomy as the primary motivation. In this article, we try to systematically compare the merits of potential observatory sites. We include South Pole, Domes A, C., and F., and also Ridge B (running northeast from Dome A), and what we call "Ridge A" (running southwest from Dome A). Our analysis combines satellite data, published results, and atmospheric models, to compare the boundary layer, weather, aurorae, airglow, precipitable water vapor, thermal sky emission, surface temperature, and the free atmosphere, at each site. We find that all Antarctic sites are likely to be compromised for optical work by airglow and aurorae. Of the sites with existing bases, Dome A is easily the best overall; but we find that Ridge A offers an even better site. We also find that Dome F is a remarkably good site. Dome C is less good as a thermal infrared or terahertz site, but would be able to take advantage of a predicted "OH hole" over Antarctica during spring. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica South pole South pole Macquarie University Research Portal Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 121 883 976 992 |
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Macquarie University Research Portal |
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ftmacquarieunicr |
language |
English |
description |
The Antarctic plateau contains the best sites on earth for many forms of astronomy, but none of the existing bases was selected with astronomy as the primary motivation. In this article, we try to systematically compare the merits of potential observatory sites. We include South Pole, Domes A, C., and F., and also Ridge B (running northeast from Dome A), and what we call "Ridge A" (running southwest from Dome A). Our analysis combines satellite data, published results, and atmospheric models, to compare the boundary layer, weather, aurorae, airglow, precipitable water vapor, thermal sky emission, surface temperature, and the free atmosphere, at each site. We find that all Antarctic sites are likely to be compromised for optical work by airglow and aurorae. Of the sites with existing bases, Dome A is easily the best overall; but we find that Ridge A offers an even better site. We also find that Dome F is a remarkably good site. Dome C is less good as a thermal infrared or terahertz site, but would be able to take advantage of a predicted "OH hole" over Antarctica during spring. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Saunders, Will Lawrence, Jon S. Storey, John W V Ashley, Michael C B Kato, Seiji Minnis, Patrick Winker, David M. Liu, Guiping Kulesa, Craig |
spellingShingle |
Saunders, Will Lawrence, Jon S. Storey, John W V Ashley, Michael C B Kato, Seiji Minnis, Patrick Winker, David M. Liu, Guiping Kulesa, Craig Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B |
author_facet |
Saunders, Will Lawrence, Jon S. Storey, John W V Ashley, Michael C B Kato, Seiji Minnis, Patrick Winker, David M. Liu, Guiping Kulesa, Craig |
author_sort |
Saunders, Will |
title |
Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B |
title_short |
Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B |
title_full |
Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B |
title_fullStr |
Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B |
title_full_unstemmed |
Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B |
title_sort |
where is the best site on earth? domes a, b, c., and f., and ridges a and b |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/43704f94-041d-44ad-8dbc-7766600a240e https://doi.org/10.1086/605780 https://research-management.mq.edu.au/ws/files/62172765/Publisher%20version%20(open%20access).pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349334524&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica South pole South pole |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica South pole South pole |
op_source |
Saunders , W , Lawrence , J S , Storey , J W V , Ashley , M C B , Kato , S , Minnis , P , Winker , D M , Liu , G & Kulesa , C 2009 , ' Where is the best site on Earth? Domes A, B, C., and F., and Ridges A and B ' , Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific , vol. 121 , no. 883 , pp. 976-992 . https://doi.org/10.1086/605780 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1086/605780 |
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Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific |
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