Site Testing At Dome C: History, Present Status & Futur

• Main Authors: Vernin, J., Agabi, A., Aristidi, E., Azouit, M., Chadid-Vernin, M., Fossat, E., Sadibekova, T., Ziad, A.
• Other Authors: 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 (UniCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UniCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Astrophysique Interprétation Modélisation (AIM (UMR7158 / UMR_E_9005 / UM_112)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2006
• Subjects: [PHYS.ASTR]Physics [physics]/Astrophysics [astro-ph]; Antarc*; Antarctica; South pole
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-02678379

International audience Here we present why we decided to undertake a site characterization at Dome C, Antarctica following a first step made at South Pole. It was clear that poor seeing measured at South Pole was mainly due to ground catabatic wind interacting with strong vertical temperature (refractive index) gradient. Thus, we though to move to Dome C where no catabatic wind is expected. We will recall the history of this long adventure. Then we will present the more recent results which concern daytime observations as well as nighttime observations, as measured by DIMM, balloons, GSM and SSS. From this database and the very special vertical distribution fo the optical turbulence at Dome C, we will present some strong implications for High Angular Resolution astronomy at Dome C.