The PLATO dome A site-testing observatory : instrumentation and first results

H. Yang; G. Allen; M. C. B. Ashley; C. S. Bonner; S. Bradley; X. Cui; J. R. Everett; L. Feng; X. Gong; S. Hengst; J. Hu; Z. Jiang; C. A. Kulesa; J. S. Lawrence; Y. Li; D. Luong-Van; M. J. McCaughrean; A. M. Moore; C. Pennypacker; N. F. H. Tothill

doi:10.1086/597547

The PLATO dome A site-testing observatory : instrumentation and first results

H. Yang
, G. Allen
, M. C. B. Ashley
, C. S. Bonner
, S. Bradley
, X. Cui
, J. R. Everett
, L. Feng
, X. Gong
, S. Hengst
, J. Hu
, Z. Jiang
, C. A. Kulesa
, J. S. Lawrence
, Y. Li
, D. Luong-Van
, M. J. McCaughrean
, A. M. Moore
, C. Pennypacker
, N. F. H. Tothill

School of Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The PLATeau Observatory (PLATO) is an automated self-powered astrophysical observatory that was deployed to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau, in 2008 January. PLATO consists of a suite of site-testing instruments designed to quantify the benefits of the Dome A site for astronomy, and science instruments designed to take advantage of the unique observing conditions. Instruments include CSTAR, an array of optical telescopes for transient astronomy; Gattini, an instrument to measure the optical sky brightness and cloud cover statistics; DASLE, an experiment to measure the statistics of the meteorological conditions within the near-surface layer; Pre-HEAT, a submillimeter tipping radiometer measuring the atmospheric transmission and water vapor content and performing spectral line imaging of the Galactic plane; and Snodar, an acoustic radar designed to measure turbulence within the near-surface layer. PLATO has run completely unattended and collected data throughout the winter 2008 season. Here we present a detailed description of the PLATO instrument suite and preliminary results obtained from the first season of operation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	174-184
Number of pages	11
Journal	Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Volume	121
Issue number	876
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/597547
Publication status	Published - 2009

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Yang, H., Allen, G., Ashley, M. C. B., Bonner, C. S., Bradley, S., Cui, X., Everett, J. R., Feng, L., Gong, X., Hengst, S., Hu, J., Jiang, Z., Kulesa, C. A., Lawrence, J. S., Li, Y., Luong-Van, D., McCaughrean, M. J., Moore, A. M., Pennypacker, C., & Tothill, N. F. H. (2009). The PLATO dome A site-testing observatory : instrumentation and first results. Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 121(876), 174-184. https://doi.org/10.1086/597547

@article{823b673d9066477a8cdb868a154e1ba4,

title = "The PLATO dome A site-testing observatory : instrumentation and first results",

abstract = "The PLATeau Observatory (PLATO) is an automated self-powered astrophysical observatory that was deployed to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau, in 2008 January. PLATO consists of a suite of site-testing instruments designed to quantify the benefits of the Dome A site for astronomy, and science instruments designed to take advantage of the unique observing conditions. Instruments include CSTAR, an array of optical telescopes for transient astronomy; Gattini, an instrument to measure the optical sky brightness and cloud cover statistics; DASLE, an experiment to measure the statistics of the meteorological conditions within the near-surface layer; Pre-HEAT, a submillimeter tipping radiometer measuring the atmospheric transmission and water vapor content and performing spectral line imaging of the Galactic plane; and Snodar, an acoustic radar designed to measure turbulence within the near-surface layer. PLATO has run completely unattended and collected data throughout the winter 2008 season. Here we present a detailed description of the PLATO instrument suite and preliminary results obtained from the first season of operation.",

author = "H. Yang and G. Allen and Ashley, \{M. C. B.\} and Bonner, \{C. S.\} and S. Bradley and X. Cui and Everett, \{J. R.\} and L. Feng and X. Gong and S. Hengst and J. Hu and Z. Jiang and Kulesa, \{C. A.\} and Lawrence, \{J. S.\} and Y. Li and D. Luong-Van and McCaughrean, \{M. J.\} and Moore, \{A. M.\} and C. Pennypacker and Tothill, \{N. F. H.\}",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1086/597547",

language = "English",

volume = "121",

pages = "174--184",

journal = "Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific",

issn = "0004-6280",

publisher = "Institute of Physics Publishing",

number = "876",

}

Yang, H, Allen, G, Ashley, MCB, Bonner, CS, Bradley, S, Cui, X, Everett, JR, Feng, L, Gong, X, Hengst, S, Hu, J, Jiang, Z, Kulesa, CA, Lawrence, JS, Li, Y, Luong-Van, D, McCaughrean, MJ, Moore, AM, Pennypacker, C & Tothill, NFH 2009, 'The PLATO dome A site-testing observatory : instrumentation and first results', Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. 121, no. 876, pp. 174-184. https://doi.org/10.1086/597547

TY - JOUR

T1 - The PLATO dome A site-testing observatory : instrumentation and first results

AU - Yang, H.

AU - Allen, G.

AU - Ashley, M. C. B.

AU - Bonner, C. S.

AU - Bradley, S.

AU - Cui, X.

AU - Everett, J. R.

AU - Feng, L.

AU - Gong, X.

AU - Hengst, S.

AU - Hu, J.

AU - Jiang, Z.

AU - Kulesa, C. A.

AU - Lawrence, J. S.

AU - Li, Y.

AU - Luong-Van, D.

AU - McCaughrean, M. J.

AU - Moore, A. M.

AU - Pennypacker, C.

AU - Tothill, N. F. H.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The PLATeau Observatory (PLATO) is an automated self-powered astrophysical observatory that was deployed to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau, in 2008 January. PLATO consists of a suite of site-testing instruments designed to quantify the benefits of the Dome A site for astronomy, and science instruments designed to take advantage of the unique observing conditions. Instruments include CSTAR, an array of optical telescopes for transient astronomy; Gattini, an instrument to measure the optical sky brightness and cloud cover statistics; DASLE, an experiment to measure the statistics of the meteorological conditions within the near-surface layer; Pre-HEAT, a submillimeter tipping radiometer measuring the atmospheric transmission and water vapor content and performing spectral line imaging of the Galactic plane; and Snodar, an acoustic radar designed to measure turbulence within the near-surface layer. PLATO has run completely unattended and collected data throughout the winter 2008 season. Here we present a detailed description of the PLATO instrument suite and preliminary results obtained from the first season of operation.

AB - The PLATeau Observatory (PLATO) is an automated self-powered astrophysical observatory that was deployed to Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau, in 2008 January. PLATO consists of a suite of site-testing instruments designed to quantify the benefits of the Dome A site for astronomy, and science instruments designed to take advantage of the unique observing conditions. Instruments include CSTAR, an array of optical telescopes for transient astronomy; Gattini, an instrument to measure the optical sky brightness and cloud cover statistics; DASLE, an experiment to measure the statistics of the meteorological conditions within the near-surface layer; Pre-HEAT, a submillimeter tipping radiometer measuring the atmospheric transmission and water vapor content and performing spectral line imaging of the Galactic plane; and Snodar, an acoustic radar designed to measure turbulence within the near-surface layer. PLATO has run completely unattended and collected data throughout the winter 2008 season. Here we present a detailed description of the PLATO instrument suite and preliminary results obtained from the first season of operation.

UR - http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/558364

U2 - 10.1086/597547

DO - 10.1086/597547

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-6280

VL - 121

SP - 174

EP - 184

JO - Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

JF - Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

IS - 876

ER -

The PLATO dome A site-testing observatory : instrumentation and first results

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