Vindue mod universet

It has long been recognized that the Antarctic plateau provides an outstanding site on the Earth's
surface for the conduct of a wide range of astronomical observations. This is on account of the
extremely cold, dry and stable air found there. The exceptional site conditions allow for observations
to be made of the cosmos, with greater sensitivity and clarity, and across a wider part of the
electromagnetic spectrum, than from temperate mid-latitude sites.

Significant investments in Antarctic astronomy are already underway. One clear shortcoming of the Antarctic plateau as an 'observing platform' is that only about one third of the celestial sky is accessible. The Greenland ice cap, being the only similar site in the northern hemisphere, could potentially play a key role, complementing the Antarctic plateau by giving access to another third of the celestial sky. Our team has a long track record in astronomical instrumentation, scientific exploitation of astronomical data, and atmospheric modeling, and is as such in an excellent position to take this first simple, but crucial, step: Testing the feasibility of an Arctic astronomical observatory at the most promising site, Summit.

Astronomi, instrumentudvikling