The Science Case for PILOT I: Summary and Overview

• Published in: Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
• Main Authors: Lawrence, J. S., Ashley, M. C. B., Bailey, J., Barrado y Navascues, D., Bedding, T. R., Bland-Hawthorn, J., Bond, I., Boulanger, F., Bouwens, R., Bruntt, H., Bunker, A., Burgarella, D., Burton, M. G., Busso, M., Coward, D., Cioni, M. -R., Durand, G., Eiroa, C., Epchtein, N., Gehrels, N., Gillingham, P., Glazebrook, K., Haynes, R., Kiss, L., Lagage, P. O., Le Bertre, T., Mackay, C., Maillard, J. P., Mcgrath, A., Minier, V., Mora, A., Olsen, K., Persi, P., Pimbblet, K., Quimby, R., Saunders, W., Schmidt, B., Stello, D., Storey, J. W. V., Tinney, C., Tremblin, P., Wheeler, J. C., Yock, P.
• Other Authors: Observatoire Astronomique de Marseille Provence (OAMP), Université de Provence - Aix-Marseille 1-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL), Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris (IAP), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Sorbonne Université (SU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2009
• Subjects: cosmology: observations; early universe; instrumentation: high angular resolution; site testing; stars: formation; telescopes; Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics; [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]; Antarctic; Milky Way; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03646225; https://doi.org/10.1071/AS08048

International audience PILOT (the Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope) is a proposed 2.5-m optical/infrared telescope to be located at Dome C on the Antarctic plateau. Conditions at Dome C are known to be exceptional for astronomy. The seeing (above ~30 m height), coherence time, and isoplanatic angle are all twice as good as at typical mid-latitude sites, while the water-vapour column, and the atmosphere and telescope thermal emission are all an order of magnitude better. These conditions enable a unique scientific capability for PILOT, which is addressed in this series of papers. The current paper presents an overview of the optical and instrumentation suite for PILOT and its expected performance, a summary of the key science goals and observational approach for the facility, a discussion of the synergies between the science goals for PILOT and other telescopes, and a discussion of the future of Antarctic astronomy. Paper II and Paper III present details of the science projects divided, respectively, between the distant Universe (i.e. studies of first light, and the assembly and evolution of structure) and the nearby Universe (i.e. studies of Local Group galaxies, the Milky Way, and the Solar System).