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

2. 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

3. SCAR AAA/PASTA Meeting 11 July 2006, Hobart Countries represented Australia Brazil China France Italy Ukraine United Kingdom United States Background

4. SCAR AAA/PASTA Meeting 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. SCAR AAA/PASTA Meeting 6 July 2008, St Petersburg Agenda Proposal for the establishment of a Scientific Research Programme Background

8. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica (AAA) Proposal to establish the AAA Scientific Research Programme VERSION: 18 June 2008 Expected Duration: 2008 – 2012 Estimated SCAR funding: $US60,000

9. Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica 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.

10. Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica 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.

11. South Pole Image: Seth White

12. Image: Andrew McgrathImage: South Pole Telescope South Pole Telescope will answer fundamental questions about the structure of the Universe.

13. 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

14. 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

15. Image: CCAA/NSF/PMO//PRIC/UNSW Dome A

16. Dome A PLATO papers at SPIE, Marseilles, June 2008 CstarCui et al7012-172 CStar packingGong et al7018-160 GattiniMoore et al7012-78 Pre-HEATKulesa et al7012-165 SnodarBonner et al7014-238 PLATOLawrence et al7012-79 PLATO powerHengst et al7012-170 PLATO C3Luong-Van et al7019-113 Image: CCAA/NSF/PMO//PRIC/UNSW

17. Image: PLATO collaboration PLATO Engine module Webcam (6 days)

18. PLATO is a collaboration between China, Australia, USA and UK. Image: CAAA

19. Tuesday, 15 July 2008 Image: PLATO collaboration

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

21. Dome F

22. Image: Koj FujitaImage: Kei Musen Nakano Image: Obi Doc Image: Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition

23. 76 BT67 ALE) BT67 S17 BT67 Naruhisa Takato, Fumihiro Uraguchi (Subaru Telescope), Hideaki Motoyama, Kotaro Fukui (NIPR)

24. 061225 070101 070109 REMTECH PA-1 Dome F Naruhisa Takato, Fumihiro Uraguchi (Subaru Telescope), Hideaki Motoyama, Kotaro Fukui (NIPR)

25. Image: Boomerang group Long-duration balloons are launched from McMurdo to study the cosmic microwave background.

26. These folk are astronomers, too. Image: http://icecube.wisc.edu

28. 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

29. Swain and Gallee, 2006 Boundary layer height ~18 m ~21 m ~27 m

30. 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).

31. Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica 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.

32. Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica 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

33. Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica 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.

34. Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica 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.

35. Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme Four Themes A. Site testing, validation and data archiving. B. Arctic site testing. C. Science goals. D. Major new facilities.

36. 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

37. 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 Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme

38. 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: