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; W. Qin; R. Riddle; Z. Shang; J. W.V. Storey; B. Sun; N. Suntzeff; N. F.H. Tothill; T. Travouillon; C. K. Walker; L. Wang; J. Yan; J. Yang; D. York; X. Yuan; X. Zhang; Z. Zhang; X. Zhou; Z. Zhu

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, W. QinR. Riddle, Z. Shang, J. W.V. Storey, B. Sun, N. Suntzeff, N. F.H. Tothill, T. Travouillon, C. K. Walker, L. Wang, J. Yan, J. Yang, D. York, X. Yuan, X. Zhang, Z. Zhang, X. Zhou, Z. Zhu

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

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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 (US)
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
State	Published - Feb 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/597547

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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., ... Zhu, Z. (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

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, Qin, W, Riddle, R, Shang, Z, Storey, JWV, Sun, B, Suntzeff, N, Tothill, NFH, Travouillon, T, Walker, CK, Wang, L, Yan, J, Yang, J, York, D, Yuan, X, Zhang, X, Zhang, Z, Zhou, X & Zhu, Z 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

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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 W. Qin and R. Riddle and Z. Shang and Storey, {J. W.V.} and B. Sun and N. Suntzeff and Tothill, {N. F.H.} and T. Travouillon and Walker, {C. K.} and L. Wang and J. Yan and J. Yang and D. York and X. Yuan and X. Zhang and Z. Zhang and X. Zhou and Z. Zhu",

year = "2009",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1086/597547",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "174--184",

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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 - Qin, W.

AU - Riddle, R.

AU - Shang, Z.

AU - Storey, J. W.V.

AU - Sun, B.

AU - Suntzeff, N.

AU - Tothill, N. F.H.

AU - Travouillon, T.

AU - Walker, C. K.

AU - Wang, L.

AU - Yan, J.

AU - Yang, J.

AU - York, D.

AU - Yuan, X.

AU - Zhang, X.

AU - Zhang, Z.

AU - Zhou, X.

AU - Zhu, Z.

PY - 2009/2

Y1 - 2009/2

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.

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JF - Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

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ER -

The PLATO dome a site-testing observatory: Instrumentation and first results

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