scholarly journals Atmospheric extinction in B and V photometry at the South Pole

1992 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 581-581
Author(s):  
Kwan-Yu Chen ◽  
Frank Bradshaw Wood

Scientific work at the South Pole during austral winter began in 1957, the International Geophysical Year. Interest in a polar observatory was already expressed in the survey of polar research conducted by the Committee of Polar Research (Gould, 1970). But not until 1986, was photoelectric photometry of variable stars made at the South Pole (Chen et al 1988); and in 1988, stellar observations for atmospheric extinction were made. The optical telescope used for stellar observations at the South Pole is a twin-mirror siderostat with an 8 cm lens (Chen et al 1986; Taylor 1988). The computer-controlled automated telescope made the polar observations possible.

ARCTIC ◽  
1963 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard A. LeSchack

... In view of the number of organizations annually participating in these expeditions, the Argentine Government decided to establish one central organization to be responsible for the scientific work done by Argentina in the Antarctic. In addition, this organization was to be the common repository for information gathered on previous Argentine expeditions, as well as for that of future endeavours. The Instituto Antartico Argentino was therefore established in Buenos Aires. It is a scientific and technical organization whose mission is to study the nature of the antarctic region. From its inception, it has steadily grown to occupy a prominent position in antarctic affairs and become the leading organization influential in all Argentine antarctic problems. By Presidential Order the organization entitled "Instituto Antartico Argentino 'Coronel Hernan Pujato' " was established on 17 April 1951 under the administration of the Minister of Technical Affairs. The name honored Coronel Hernan Pujato, who commanded the first Argentine Army antarctic expedition. He became the Institute's first Director. With the preparations for the International Geophysical Year underway, the Institute's activities expanded and Captain Rodolfo N. Panzarini, now a retired rear admiral, was named Director. He still retains this position and is the main driving force behind the organization (see Fig. 1). At the time of his nomination, the organization officially took the name "Instituto Antartico Argentino" (I.A.A.). The Institute is an in-house polar organization, containing in one building the entire administrative staff, scientists, technicians, laboratories, shops, and equipment storage facilities necessary to carry out scientific investigations in the Antarctic. There is an advantage in keeping under one roof the majority of persons with an active interest in antarctic work so that they can confer easily with one another, exchange data, and have easy access to a polar library. Such a closely knit organization constitutes a potentially powerful voice in antarctic affairs. This voice perhaps is not as great a consideration in the present thinking of other polar organizations as it is with the Argentines, whose interest in Antarctica, and in particular the Palmer Peninsula area, is very strong. ...


Author(s):  
G. E. Fogg

Beginning with its dispatch of Halley on his geomagnetic cruise of 1699 to 1700, the Royal Society has played a sporadic, ad hoc, but nevertheless considerable role in the scientific investigation of the South Polar regions. In three ventures—Ross's geomagnetic survey of 1839 to 1843, the first Scott expedition of 1901 to 1904 and the British contribution to the International Geophysical Year of 1957 to 1958—it made major contributions to the planning and support of Antarctic scientific programmes. Throughout, it has given backing to polar expeditions but has been consistent in putting science before geographical discovery. It has numbered some 20 Antarctic scientists among its Fellows.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (SPS5) ◽  
pp. 167-172
Author(s):  
Damdin Batmunkh

AbstractIn this paper the basic researches, telescopes and devices of the Khurel Togoot astronomical observatory, which was founded during the International Geophysical Year, are briefly described. Our astronomical observatory is located on Bogd Mountain near the capital city Ulaanbaatar. Almost 50 years of scientific work has been carried out there. In particular, astrometric researches, GPS, solar researches and observations of minor planets are conducted. Now these scientific researches basically are maintained and extended, with the introduction of modern technology. As an example of the data received by our solar telescope ‘Coronagraph’, some solar images will be shown. Recently we equipped this telescope with a CCD camera. Because of the transformation of the economy in Mongolia, there are at present difficulties with the preparation of young professional astronomers and with the purchase of new astronomical equipment.


1960 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 348-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Hayton

The Antarctic is no longer the virtual unknown of story and legend. Though it will undoubtedly remain a frontier—as much of Alaska has remained a frontier—one consequence of the International Geophysical Year is that policy and operational affairs of the South Polar Regions have gradually become almost “orthodox,” that is, handled on a daily basis by government officials and institutions in the near-normal manner of dealing with any matter in modern bureaucracy and research.


1986 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 83-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
K-Y. Chen ◽  
J. Esper ◽  
J. D. McNeill ◽  
J. P. Oliver ◽  
G. Schneider ◽  
...  

An 8-cm optical telescope is constructed for use at the south pole. It is designed to make photoelectric observations of selected stars continuously through an austral winter. The automated operation is controlled by a computer. The aim is to study the variability of the star γ2 Velorum as well as the condition of the polar sky and the performance of the instrument.


2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (14) ◽  
pp. 697-697
Author(s):  
Suzanne L. Kenyon ◽  
John W.V. Storey

Dome C, Antarctica is a prime site for astronomical observations in terms of climate, wind speeds, turbulence, and infrared and terahertz sky backgrounds (for example, see Aristidi et al. 2005; Storey et al. 2005). 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, the brightness of the night sky at Dome C is estimated in Kenyon & Storey (2006) including the contributions from scattered sunlight, moonlight, aurorae, airglow, zodiacal light, integrated starlight, diffuse Galactic light and artificial sources. The results are compared to Mauna Kea, Hawaii. We summarise the main conclusions.


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