3rd ARENA Conference

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Dome A site testing and future plan
Xuefei Gong Lifan Wang Xiangqun Cui Longlong
Feng Xiangyan Yuan Nanjing Institute of
Astronomical Optics Technology (NIAOT) Chinese
Center for Antarctic Astronomy (CCAA) Texas A M
University Purple Mountain Observatory
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? Dome A site testing? Kunlun inland Station?
Future plan
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Dome A the summit of the Antarctic icecap
Cold and dry Low atmospheric backgrounds
Better atmospheric transparency Least seism Low
wind Better seeing conditions

Zhongshan
4093 m altitude 1300km from Zhongshan station
Latitude 8022'00?S Longitude 7721'11?E
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A Chinese Key International Program for IPY
PANDA- The Prydz Bay, Amery Ice Shelf and Dome A
Observatories

The geographic locations (60o80oE, south
of 53oS)

• Main research areas
• Prydz Bay
• Amery Ice Shelf
• Zhongshan Station
• Lambert Basin
• Zhongshan-Dome A transect
• Dome A

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Three arrival by Chinese expedition team First
arrival---- Jan. 10, 2005, 13 person, measured
the highest point Second arrival---- Jan.10,
2008, 17 person (2 Astronomer), Plato and Cstar
install Third arrival---- Jan. 6, 2009, 28
person (1 Astronomer), Plato and Cstar maintenance

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Astronomical field at Dome AJan. 2008
CSTAR SNODAR PreHeat GATTINI SONIC
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CSTAR( Chinese Small Telescope ARray4x145mm)
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Astronomical field at Dome AFeb. 2, 2009
GATTINI and NIGEL
SNODAR ?
SNODAR ?
CSTAR
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Astronomical field at Dome AJan. 7, 2009

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Engine Module of PLATO
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Instrument Module of PLATO
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SNODAR
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GATTINI and NIGEL
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CSTAR
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Result
?PLATO have run about 7 month at 2008
?Re-start from Jan. 19, 2009
?CSTAR 360G data at 2008, variable objects,
binary
?PreHeat water vapor
?Snodar atmospheric boundary layer
?Gattini, Nigel, Webcam
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Kunlun Station
Accommodate 12-15 person Winter over station from
2014
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The inland team 11 Vehicle, 44 sledge, 28
person, 570 ton material 1 Captain, 2
vice-Captain 4 Mechanical Engineer (maintain
vehicle) 1 Communication Engineer 12
Builder 2 Doctor, 1 Chef 3 Scientist 2 Reporter
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(No Transcript)
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Kunlun Station
? building finished at Jan. 27,
2009 Inauguration at Feb.2, 2009 ? building
will be constructed at the beginning of 2010
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Kunlun Station will be strong support for Dome A
science, Astronomy have played key role
Congratulatory letter from President of R.P. China
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Future plan
FTS/Shabar/Mass15m towerAST3HEAT4m
optical/IR 15m sub-mmSouth LAMOST project
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AST3(Three Antarctic Schmidt Telescope )
Main specifications

• Clear aperture50cm
• FOV4.2
• Wave Band400nm-900nm (g, r, i filter for 3
  telescopes )
• Scale1 arcsec/pixel
• Image quality80energy encircled in one pixel
• CCD STA1600 ,9micron /pixel, 10k 10k
• Working mode drift scan

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AST3
1) Adjustable tower height 2) Foldable
tent-like dome 3) ITO coating plus active snow
removing 4) Auto-focusing
Shorter tube (total optical length about 2.2m),
not increasing light obscuration Equatorial mount
Equatorial mount
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Preliminary design for 4m antarctic telescope
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4m optical/IR
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15m THz
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CCAA will dedicate to promoting Dome A Astronomy
with wide international collaboration, finally to
establish Antarctic astronomical observatory
with logistic support from Kunlun station
http//ccaa.pmo.ac.cn http//www.niaot.ac.cn
Thanks!