Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica John Storey Image: David A. Hardy.

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Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica

John Storey

Image: David A. Hardy

SCAR AAA Expert Group and PASTA Action Group

• Formed in 2002• Web sites maintained at UNSW

• Meetings:– Sydney 2003, in conjunction with the International Astronomical Union General Assembly (the “zoo” meeting)– Bremen 2004, in conjunction with the SCAR Open Science Conference– Hobart 2006, in conjunction with the SCAR Open Science Conference– St Petersburg 2006, in conjunction with the SCAR Open Science Conference

Background

SCAR AAA/PASTAMeeting 11 July 2006, Hobart

Countries represented• Australia• Brazil• China• France• Italy• Ukraine• United Kingdom• United States

Background

SCAR AAA/PASTAMeeting 11 July 2006, Hobart

Agenda

• Reports:– National and International Groups

• SCOARA• ARENA

– IPY• Astropoles• Stella Antarctica• PANDA• Other IPY proposals

• Future of AAA• Future of PASTA• Resolution on dissemination of site testing data• Proposal for the establishment of a Scientific Research Programme Planning Group• Future meetings, eg Prague, Roscoff

Background

Scientific Research Programme planning group

Objectives as of July 2006

• Create roadmap for the development of new astronomical facilities in Antarctica

• Promote international activities in Antarctic astronomy• Maintain a web-based database of atmospheric

characterisation and other information from astronomical sites in Antarctica

• Preliminary proposal to SCAR Executive in 2007– Approval granted to submit full proposal to SCAR meeting in

St Petersburg, 2008

Background

Other international meetings 2006 – 8

• August 2006, Prague, IAU– Antarctic Astronomy Working Group

• October 2006, Roscoff, ARENA• September 2007, Potsdam, ARENA• May 2008, Sendai, Japan/Aus planning mtg.• June 2008, Beijing, China/Aus/US planning mtg.• June 2008, Marseilles, SPIE

– Antarctic site testing session– New Antarctic telescopes session

Background

SCAR AAA/PASTAMeeting 6 July 2008, St Petersburg

Agenda

Proposal for the establishment of a Scientific Research Programme

Background

Scientific Committee on Antarctic ResearchAstronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica (AAA)Proposal to establish the AAA Scientific Research Programme

VERSION: 18 June 2008

Expected Duration: 2008 – 2012Estimated SCAR funding: $US60,000

Scientific Research Programme

Broadly stated, the objectives of Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica are to coordinate astronomical activities in Antarctica in a way that ensures the best possible outcomes from international investment in Antarctic astronomy, and maximizes the opportunities for productive interaction with other disciplines.

Scientific Research Programme Deliverable outcomes, including public awareness

We aim to deliver:

• Quantitative assessments of the potential of each Antarctic plateau station to contribute to astronomy,• Advances in the understanding of Antarctic meteorology, as it applies to astronomical observations,• Improved coordination with atmospheric and ionospheric researchers,• Papers in peer-reviewed journals,• Properly archived data sets of site-testing data.

South Pole

Image: Seth White

Image: Andrew McgrathImage: South Pole Telescope

South Pole Telescope will answer fundamental questions about the structure of the Universe.

Concordia is a French/Italian station operating year-round from 2005 at Dome C.

• There will be 16 winterers• Astronomy is one of the key science drivers for the station

Image: John Storey

Proposed telescopes for Dome C include:

• PILOT, a 2.5 metre optical/infrared telescope

• ASO, a 12 metre sub-mm telescope

• Solar telescopes

Image: Andrew McGrath

Image: CCAA/NSF/PMO//PRIC/UNSW

Dome A

Dome A PLATO papers at SPIE, Marseilles, June 2008

Cstar Cui et al 7012-172CStar packing Gong et al 7018-160Gattini Moore et al 7012-78Pre-HEAT Kulesa et al 7012-165Snodar Bonner et al 7014-238PLATO Lawrence et al 7012-79PLATO power Hengst et al 7012-170PLATO C3 Luong-Van et al 7019-113

Image: CCAA/NSF/PMO//PRIC/UNSW

Image: PLATO collaboration

PLATO Engine module Webcam (6 days)

PLATO is a collaboration between China, Australia, USA and UK.

Image: CAAA

Tuesday, 15 July 2008

Image: PLATO collaboration

Derived precipitable water vapour. Figure 5 from Yang et al 2008 (in preparation)

Dome F

Image: Koj Fujita Image: Kei “Musen” Nakano

Image: Obi Doc

Image: Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition

ケープタウン出発前イリューシン 76 ノボラザレフスカヤ滑走路着イリューシン 76

損傷前のバスラー BT67 レスキューに来たツインオッター（ ALE)

新バスラー BT67 S17の新バスラー BT67

南極の航空機あれこれ

Naruhisa Takato, Fumihiro Uraguchi (Subaru Telescope), Hideaki Motoyama, Kotaro Fukui (NIPR)

061225

070101

070109REMTECH PA-1

Dome F

Naruhisa Takato, Fumihiro Uraguchi (Subaru Telescope), Hideaki Motoyama, Kotaro Fukui (NIPR)

Image: Boomerang group

Long-duration balloons are launched from McMurdo to study the cosmic microwave background.

These folk are astronomers, too.

Image: http://icecube.wisc.edu

Coordinate site-testing experiments to ensure that results obtained from different sites are directly comparable and well understood, Build a data base of site-testing data that is accessible to all researchers, Increase the level of coordination and cooperation between astronomers, atmospheric physicists, space physicists and meteorologists, Extend existing Antarctic site-testing and feasibility studies to potential Arctic sites; for example, in Greenland and Canada, Define and prioritise current scientific goals, Create a roadmap for development of major astronomical facilities in Antarctica, Stimulate international cooperation on major new astronomical facilities in Antarctica.

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research

Programme

Swain and Gallee, 2006

Boundary layer height

~18 m~21 m~27 m

Polar Auroras

Dempsey et al, PASA, 2005

Median sky brightness contribution at Dome C in B and V ~22 mag/square arcsec (comparable to zodiacal light).

Scientific Research Programme By mid 2010

Comparative site-testing data obtained from Dome C, Dome A, and Dome F, base-lined against South Pole data Input provided to the ARENA final report, and to the PILOT design study Site testing commenced at sites in Greenland and northern Canada.

Scientific Research Programme By mid 2012

Web based archive of site testing data from all sites, fully publicly accessible, At least one major (>$50m) new international astronomical facility approved for construction, with approval based in part on Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica recommendations, Roadmap in place for future astronomical facilities

Scientific Research Programme Beyond 2012

The Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica SRP is proposed for a period of four years only in the first instance. If it is meeting all of its milestones at this time, including the successful coordination of major new astronomical facilities in Antarctica, a new proposal for its continued operation will be submitted.

Scientific Research Programme 8. Success factors

• Published results in refereed journals,• Higher visibility both for SCAR and for Antarctic astronomy, as measured by increased numbers of positive media reports,• Greater cooperation with atmospheric, meteorological and ionospheric researchers, as evidenced by increased numbers of interdisciplinary publications and cross-discipline citations,• Systematic programs site-testing of Arctic sites established, with close links to new and existing Antarctic programs,• Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica results and recommendations used by builders and planners of major new astronomical facilities in Antarctica.

Four “Themes”

A. Site testing, validation and data archiving. B. Arctic site testing. C. Science goals. D. Major new facilities.

Ongoing or planned site-testing• Dome A

– seeing– turbulence profiling– surface layer profiling– optical photometry– cloud cover– submm transparency

• Dome C– seeing– optical photometry– cloud cover– submm transparency

• Dome F– seeing– surface-layer profiling– IR sky brightness

• Summit station, Greenland– seeing– cloud cover

• Ellesmere Island, Canada – cloud cover

Updated time-line• July 2008

– Seek approval of SRP proposal at Delegates’ meeting

• During 2009– Official launch (IYA event)– Select theme leaders and working groups– Develop implementation plan

• 2010– Funded program begins

• Mid 2010– Presentation at SCAR XXXI

• Mid 2012– Review– Presentation at SCAR XXXII

• Michael Andersen (Denmark)• Philip Anderson (United Kingdom)• Michael Burton (Australia)• Xiangqun Cui (China)• Nicolas Epchtein (France)• Takashi Ichikawa (Japan)• Albrecht Karle (USA)• James Lloyd (USA) • Sylvia Masi (Italy)• John Storey (Australia – Proposed Chief Officer)• Lifan Wang (China/USA)

The following Steering Committee is proposed:

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica John Storey Image: David A. Hardy.

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