Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997a%26as..125..183m&link_type=abstract
A & A Supplement series, Vol. 125, October 1997, 183-193.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
50
Atmospheric Effects, Site Testing
Scientific paper
Nine months' seeing statistics at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) are presented. Measurements were taken with a differential image motion monitor on top of a 5-m high tower. From the whole campaign the mean seeing is 0.76", the median value is 0.64" and 7% of the time the seeing is better than 0.3". The best seeing measured is 0.17". A seasonal variation is noticeable, better seeing conditions appearing during summer, which corresponds to the occurrence of a well-defined inversion layer due to the high prevalence of trade winds. During the summer, 50% of the time seeing is better than 0.54", value which drops to 0.46" during June, with a narrow distribution (rms = 0.17"). These figures place the ORM among, or better than, the best astronomical sites (Paranal and La Silla, Chile) where seeing statistics are available. When inspecting individual nights, it sporadically happens that seeing deteriorates abruptly and slowly recovers, with a 1.2-hour exponential decay time. This phenomenon is interpreted in terms of meteorological instabilities (gravity waves) which trigger a turbulent regime.
Munoz-Tunon Casiana
Varela Antonia Maria
Vernin Jean
No associations
LandOfFree
Night-time image quality at Roque de LOS Muchachos Observatory does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Night-time image quality at Roque de LOS Muchachos Observatory, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Night-time image quality at Roque de LOS Muchachos Observatory will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1768058