What about Astronomy at Dome A?
Transcription
What about Astronomy at Dome A?
What about Astronomy at Dome A? A compilation of some information by Er*c Fossat Dome A Dome A 4100 altitude highest driest coldest calmest How much better is Dome A than South Pole, Dome C??? PLATO The annual vector mean winds from Polar MM5 Wind speed (m/s) Courtesy A. Monaghan, Byrd Polar Research Centre Fig. 1. Dome A surface topographic map based on GPS data from the 21st CHINARE. Heights are relative to the WGS84 ellipsoid. Contour interval is 0.40 m. The black triangle indicates the position of the summit of Dome A. CNRS- Université Pierre et Marie Curie- Université Versailles/Saint-Quentin CEA-CNES-Ecole Polytechnique-Ecole Normale Supérieure-IRD CETP – LSCE – LOCEAN – LMD – SA Jean Jouzel International workshop on Dome Argus Expedition during IPY May 27-30, 2007, Shanghai Ice core science Institut Pierre Simon Laplace Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (CEA/CNRS/UVSQ Saclay) A French view of the 2008/09 drilling season at Dome A, Antarctica Jean Jouzel Director of Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace, Paris, France On behalf of Jérôme Chappellaz, LGGE, responsible of the project on the french side Outline : International context Intermediate drilling Firn physical properties Site testing Atmospheric parameters for astronomy Turbulence (MASS, SNODAR, DASLE, lunar SHABAR) Boundary layer height, distribution and variability Upper atmospheric distribution Sky emission (Gattini SBC, Nigel) Auroral spectral intensity and distribution, (visible and infrared) sky background versus sun/moon elevation Sky transmission (Pre-HEAT) Transparency and noise in long wave (sub-millimetre) windows Cloud (Gattini ASC) Cloud cover statistics and distribution Science (CSTAR) Optical transients: variable stars, transits, micro-lensing, GRB, etc Collaborators University of New South Wales, Australia Polar Research Institute of China Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, China National Astronomical Observatories, Beijing, China Purple Mountain Observatory, China California Institute of Technology, USA Cerro-Tololo Inter-American Observatories, Chile Texas A and M, USA University of Arizona, USA University of Chicago, USA Space Sciences Laboratory, USA PLATO instruments spare Gattini all-sky webcams Nigel SHABAR Gattini SBC Pre-HEAT MASS Electronics computer racks Battery bank DASLE SNODAR PLATO power Thermal ducting Helmholtz resonator Standard shipping container PLATO Engine module 10 foot shipping container 6 x diesel engines (Hatz air-cooled 4stroke single-cylinder 0.35 lt) Jet A1 aviation fuel ~4000 litres Average power ~1 kW Low pressure testing at UNSW Solar panels for fuel reduction Ultra-capacitors Exhaust outlet Hatz engines Vibration isolation frame Engine microcontroller Fuel tank Early results from PLATO have confirmed expectations (Yang et al. 2008). Pre-HEAT has demonstrated that the precipitable water vapour is significantly lower than observed at South Pole or Dome C during the same period of year. Webcam images show qualitatively that the fraction of cloud free conditions is lower, and the rate of occurrence of aurora is much higher, than typically observed at Dome C. Dome A roadmap for astronomy 2008 1 PLATO Site testing CSTAR HEAT CSTAR2 XIAN prototype 4 m telescope XIAN array ????? 2 3 2009 4 1 2 3 2010 4 1 2 3 2011 4 1 2 3 4 logistics For 2007/8 traverse: Polar Research Institute of China Total weight <6000 kg (via traverse) 20 x 200 litre drums of Jet A1 (via traverse) Sled for PLATO 2 astronomers on expedition NSF/AAD: air support Aus/NZ to/from Dome A 2 people, 1 week stay at Dome A CSTAR on Dome A -The progress of CSTAR -(Chinese Small Telescope Array) Xiangyan Yuan(袁祥岩), Xu Zhou(周旭) Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology/NAOC (南京天文光学技术研究所) National Astronomical Observatories (国家天文台NAOC) Purple Mountain Observatory (紫金山天文台PMO) PRIC, SHANGHAI 2007 4x14.5cm telescopes 4 telescopes with diameter 14.5cm, 1Kx1K CCD each, 4.5x4.5 square degrees view, all point to the south pole (near the zenith ). With g, r, i and none filters, without any mechanical moveable instrument. Constant observation for more than 4 months, take pictures every 10 ~20s. Time table of CSTAR 2006.12 optical design finished 2007.4 the test telescope with normal steel tube finished, mounted with CCD and first observation at Xinglong Station Early June,2007 the invar telescopes will be finished End June,2007 alignment of the whole system 2007.7 whole system test 2007.8 Package ,Transport CSTAR to Sydney 2007.9-10 Plato general testing, package and setup training Oct 22, 2007 Depart from Sydney to Perth Nov 10, 2007 Lade “Xuelong” Ship with PLATO …. Astronomy at Dome Argus 冰穹阿古斯天文 Lifan Wang (王力帆) 2007/05/28 Dome C Lawrence et al. 2004, Nature, 431, 278 Dome A Agabi 118, 840, 344 Swain & Gallee 2006, PASP, 118, 1 0.5 Meter Pilot (2008-2010) 3 small wide field telescopes working together Supernovae discovery Short time scale variables (gamma-ray bursts, micro-lensing, …) The first wide field polarization map of the sky The prototype of a larger telescopes XIAN Argus was a hero with more than the usual number of eyes. This excess ocular equipment made Argus an excellent watchman. 400, 50cm telescope array -Xian Area for Follow-up Telescope(s) 4-meter Dark Universe Telescope (2012-2015) La frilosité n'est hélas pas que du coté astro à l'INSU. Je me rends compte de plus en plus que l'INSU et le CNRS plus généralement nous relaient mal pour les relations internationales dans le genre. Je crois que rapidement, il faudrait se mettre autour de la table avec les Chinois de manière à développer des choses complétementaires, et surtout assurer nos propres intérêts. Mais discuter au niveau labo est une chose, discuter au niveau institutionnel en est une autre. Je ne sais pas si Le Quéau est prêt à mouiller la chemise sur les relations franco-chinoises. Faudrait tâter le terrain. En tout cas, Dome A se fera et c'est dans notre intérêt d'articuler la science à Concordia au mieux avec ce partenaire/compétiteur. Si chacun part dans son coin en pensant être meilleur que l'autre, j'ai bien peur que les Chinois gagneront sur le moyen et long terme... La croissance mondiale est chez eux, et ils savent la réinvestir très rapidement en science et technologie ! (Jérome Chappelaz, LGGE, Grenoble)