Stability or deterioration of the night sky at Nice Observatory

Details Stability or deterioration of the night sky at Nice Observatory Stability or deterioration of the night sky at Nice Observatory

Sep 1981

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1981lastr..95..371f&link_type=abstract

L'Astronomie, vol. 95, Sept. 1981, p. 371-379. In French.

Physics

Optics

Astronomical Observatories, Atmospheric Optics, Atmospheric Turbulence, Night Sky, Annual Variations, Astrometry, Deterioration

Scientific paper

Consideration is given to the problem of the astronomical quality of the night sky at Nice Observatory in view of the urban expansion taking place in the area. Following a brief review of the founding of Nice Observatory in 1881 on the slopes of Mont Gros northeast of Nice and of the astronomical instruments currently in use there, a statistical study of the optical turbulence in the region from 1967 through 1978 is presented based on observations made as part of a program of long-focus astrometry. A significant decrease in the number of nights per year suitable for observations is found, which, however, is marked by seasonal variations, making it impossible to infer a deterioration in sky quality. Examination of the mean annual image quality as indicated by the level of turbulence on the Danjon scale reveals the mean quality of the nights to have improved as the number of observations decreased. Further analysis of the quality of the observing nights taken singly, however, reveals the increase in the average quality to have come at the expense of a decrease in the number of nights of the highest quality, signalling a deterioration in observing conditions.

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