PANDA and Astronomy Projects on Dome APANDA and Astronomy Projects on Dome A

Purple Mountain Observatory(紫金山天文台 PMO)

Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology/NAOC(南京天文光学技术研究所 )

Polar Reserch Institute of China(中国极地研究中心 )

National Astronomical Observatories

(国家天文台 NAOC)

Xu ZHOU(周旭 ) Lifan WANG(王立帆 ) Xiangqun CUI(崔向群 ) Yuansheng LI(李院生 ) Jun YAN(严俊 ) Longlong FENG(冯隆隆 ) Yongheng ZHAO(赵永恒 ) Jingyao HU(胡景耀 ) Yongqiang YAO(姚永强 ) Zhenxi ZHU(朱镇熹 )

Sino-France 2006

What is PANDA?What is PANDA?

The geographic locationsThe geographic locations (60(60oo ～～ 8080ooE, south of 53E, south of 53ooS)S)

Main research areas

Prydz Bay

Amery Ice Shelf

Zhongshan Station

Lambert Basin

Zhongshan-Dome A transect

Dome A

The The PPrydz Bay, rydz Bay, AAmery Ice Shelf amery Ice Shelf annd d DDome ome AA Observatories Observatories

Short Form Title : PANDAShort Form Title : PANDA

Traverse from Zhongshan to Dome A twice,Traverse from Zhongshan to Dome A twice,About 8 snow mobiles every time, can take abAbout 8 snow mobiles every time, can take ab

out 700 tons.out 700 tons.Set up a 100 mSet up a 100 m22 building at Dome A. building at Dome A. Install several Astronomy instruments at DomInstall several Astronomy instruments at Dom

e A.e A.About 2010 :About 2010 : Set up the station living through the winterSet up the station living through the winter on

Dome A

2007/2008 and 2008/2009 season:2007/2008 and 2008/2009 season:

• Ministry of FinanceMinistry of Finance

• Ministry of Science and Ministry of Science and

TechnologyTechnology

• National Science Foundation of National Science Foundation of

ChinaChina

• State Oceanic AdministrationState Oceanic Administration

The fund for PANDA in The fund for PANDA in term of IPY is more than term of IPY is more than $25M. Sponsors$25M. Sponsors are: are:

E60

2000

500

80 75 70

E70

E80

Amery Ice Shelf

Prince Charles Mountain

ZhongshanZhongshanGrove Mountain

Dome A

Mawson

Princess Elizabeth Land

Prydz B

ay

Davis

MGA

East Antarctic Glaciological Exploration (EAGLE)East Antarctic Glaciological Exploration (EAGLE)

1996/19971996/19971997/19981997/1998

1998/19991998/1999

2004/20052004/2005

About 1228km

USGS imageUSGS image

• Dome A• South

Pole

• Dome C

• Vostok

0

20

40

60

80

100

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.00

100

200

300

CP

MK

N

umbe

r of

mea

sure

men

ts

Total atmospheric seeing (arcsec)

DC

Cum

ulat

ive

prob

abili

ty

Lawrence, Ashley, Tokovinin, and Travouillon, Nature, 431, 278, (2004)

How about Dome A as astronomy How about Dome A as astronomy observation site?observation site?

The The collaboration collaboration between Antarctic Astronomy between Antarctic Astronomy Center of China (Center of China (AACCAACC) and ) and University of New University of New South Wales.South Wales.

AASTINOAASTINO has contributed to the site measure at has contributed to the site measure at Dome C.Dome C.

AASTINO

Cooperate with California Institute Cooperate with California Institute of Technologyof Technology

A A 35cm-diameter-telescope35cm-diameter-telescope to measure to measure the seeing, background light, etc. at Dome the seeing, background light, etc. at Dome A.A.

AACC provides telescope, Caltech AACC provides telescope, Caltech provides the CCD.provides the CCD.

4x15cm telescopes4x15cm telescopes

4 telescopes with diameter 15cm, 1Kx1K 4 telescopes with diameter 15cm, 1Kx1K CCD each, CCD each, 5x55x5 square degrees view, all square degrees view, all point to the zenithpoint to the zenith of the south pole. of the south pole.

With With BVRI BVRI filters and filters and polarizerpolarizer, without any , without any mechanical moveable instrument.mechanical moveable instrument.

Constant observation for more than 4 Constant observation for more than 4 months, take pictures every 10s. months, take pictures every 10s.

Science PurposesScience Purposes

Variables with photometer and color, etc.Variables with photometer and color, etc. SNe, Novae, Orphan afterglows of SNe, Novae, Orphan afterglows of γγoutbuoutbu

rst.rst. Search for extrasolar planets. Search for extrasolar planets. Light curves of variablesLight curves of variables Statistic of the variables in this area.Statistic of the variables in this area. Site survey: background light, cloud, etc.Site survey: background light, cloud, etc.

XIANXIAN—— eXtreme Imaging Array Network eXtreme Imaging Array Network inspired by the appearance of the terracotta armies at Xian, Chinainspired by the appearance of the terracotta armies at Xian, China

D. York, D. Lamb, D. Sanford (U. Chicago); C Pennypacker (SSL); X. Cui (NAIOT);J. Storey, M. Ashley (UNSW); R. Malina, S. Basa (Marseille); E. Cappellaro (Padova);L. Wang (LBL); M. Blouke (Ball Aerospace); X. Zhou (CAS, Beijing)

Xian plan, cooperate with Xian plan, cooperate with UC,ChicagoUC,Chicago

400 telescopes400 telescopes with diameter with diameter 50cm50cm, 20 square , 20 square degrees each, degrees each, 16Kx16K16Kx16K CCD. CCD.

Half (1/3?) monitor the area near the Half (1/3?) monitor the area near the zenith(4000 degrees) , the others survey the zenith(4000 degrees) , the others survey the whole south sky.whole south sky.

The The first stepfirst step is in International Polar Year, build is in International Polar Year, build 2 or 3 sample2 or 3 sample telescopes. telescopes.

Deep optical survey (much deeper than SDSS)Deep optical survey (much deeper than SDSS) The same subjects as 4x15cm, but much more The same subjects as 4x15cm, but much more

powerful.powerful.

The View of XianThe View of Xian

Close ViewClose View

4-meter telescope4-meter telescope

图 4 (b) 4米望远镜机架及支撑效果图

CharactersCharacters of 4-meter and of 4-meter and benefitsbenefits from the best site on the earthfrom the best site on the earth

field of view(field of view(FOVFOV) is ) is 2°2° Image quality: 1° FOV: 80% circled in Image quality: 1° FOV: 80% circled in 0.10.1

"; "; full FOV (2°): 80% circled in 0.15" full FOV (2°): 80% circled in 0.15" reach reach 2929thth magnitude in R-band (10 magnitude in R-band (10σσ) due ) due

to the best seeing, clearity, etc.to the best seeing, clearity, etc. Cost of the telescope is less than Cost of the telescope is less than $30M$30M.. Similar characters as SNAPSimilar characters as SNAP or LSST(8 meor LSST(8 me

ter)ter)

Thanks!Thanks!

Antarctic disadvantagesAntarctic disadvantages

Winterizing a telescope takes time/effortWinterizing a telescope takes time/effort It is difficult to repair faults in mid-winterIt is difficult to repair faults in mid-winter It is more expensive and difficult to have a large team of people It is more expensive and difficult to have a large team of people

at the telescope (hence automation is critical)at the telescope (hence automation is critical) Transporting large structures to Dome C incurs a year’s delay Transporting large structures to Dome C incurs a year’s delay

at Dumont d’Urville stationat Dumont d’Urville station The telescope is being built on ice foundationsThe telescope is being built on ice foundations Less cloud-free dark time than Chile (although the same as Less cloud-free dark time than Chile (although the same as

Mauna Kea)Mauna Kea) Aurorae (although Dome C is in the middle of the auroral oval)Aurorae (although Dome C is in the middle of the auroral oval) Less overall sky coverageLess overall sky coverage

Antarctic advantagesAntarctic advantages

Superb seeing (0.27 arcsec average; < 0.15 arcsec for 25% of the time)Superb seeing (0.27 arcsec average; < 0.15 arcsec for 25% of the time) Wide isoplanatic angle, long coherence times (a factor of 2 better than MK)Wide isoplanatic angle, long coherence times (a factor of 2 better than MK) Lower scintillation (a factor of 2-3 times lower than MK)Lower scintillation (a factor of 2-3 times lower than MK) Low precipitable water vapour – new windows, wider windowsLow precipitable water vapour – new windows, wider windows Stable atmospheric conditionsStable atmospheric conditions Low IR backgrounds (factors of 10-100 better than MK)Low IR backgrounds (factors of 10-100 better than MK) Low telescope temperatures (particularly important for interferometry)Low telescope temperatures (particularly important for interferometry) Greatly reduced telescope costs (for the same performance)Greatly reduced telescope costs (for the same performance) No aerosols or dust particlesNo aerosols or dust particles Longer mirror coating lifetimes (no need for recoating?)Longer mirror coating lifetimes (no need for recoating?) Reduced airmass variationsReduced airmass variations >90% cloud free at Dome C; long periods of continuous observation>90% cloud free at Dome C; long periods of continuous observation Low windspeeds, low maximum wind speedsLow windspeeds, low maximum wind speeds No seismic activityNo seismic activity No endangered species, etcNo endangered species, etc Increased sky coverage (for some projects, e.g., AO imaging, Increased sky coverage (for some projects, e.g., AO imaging,

interferometry)interferometry) Plenty of room to put lots of telescopes!Plenty of room to put lots of telescopes!

Galactic center

LMC

SMC

6 am

Galactic center

LMC

SMC

6 amJune 21st

Galactic coordinates

Galactic center

LMC

SMC

12 am12 am

Galactic center

LMCSMC

June 21st

Galactic coordinates

Galactic center

SMC

LMC

6 pmJune 21st

Galactic coordinates

Galactic center

LMC SMC

12 pmJune 21st

Galactic coordinates