Optical Sky Brightness at Dome C, Antarctica

Details Optical Sky Brightness at Dome C, Antarctica Optical Sky Brightness at Dome C, Antarctica

Aug 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006iauss...7e..29k&link_type=abstract

Astronomy in Antarctica, 26th meeting of the IAU, Special Session 7, 22-23 August, 2006 in Prague, Czech Republic, SPS7, #29

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Dome C, Antarctica is a prime site for astronomical observations in terms of climate, wind speeds and turbulence. The infrared and terahertz sky backgrounds are the lowest of any inhabited place on Earth. However, at present little is known about the optical sky brightness and atmospheric extinction. Using a variety of modelling techniques together with data from the South Pole, we estimate the brightness of the night sky including the contributions from scattered sunlight, moonlight, aurorae, airglow, zodiacal light and artificial sources. We compare our results to another prime astronomical site, Mauna Kea. We find moonlight has significantly less effect at Dome C than at Mauna Kea. Aurorae are expected to have a minor impact at both sites, and zodiacal light is expected to be less at Dome C than at Mauna Kea. Airglow emissions at Dome C are expected to be similar to those at temperate sites. With proper planning, artificial sources of light pollution should be non-existent. The overall atmospheric extinction, or opacity, is expected to be the minimum possible. We conclude that Dome C is a very promising site not only for infrared and terahertz astronomy, but for optical astronomy as well..

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Optical Sky Brightness at Dome C, Antarctica 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 Optical Sky Brightness at Dome C, Antarctica, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical Sky Brightness at Dome C, Antarctica will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1625996