AAA Kick-off meeting Sydney, 29 June – 1 July 2011 Image: Brian Corey, MIT

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme

Statistics 51 attendees 8 countries 26 contributed talk 1 invited talk

Contour map of Antarctica USGS image Dome C South Pole Dome A Dome F Ridge B Ridge A McMurdo

SUMMIT Alert

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme

Why are we here? The fine print… “There is no registration fee, but every participant is expected…”

Structure of SCAR Standing Scientific Groups SCAR's Standing Scientific Groups are responsible for: Sharing information on disciplinary scientific research being conducted by national Antarctic programmes; Identifying research areas or fields where current research is lacking; Coordinating proposals for future research by national Antarctic programmes to achieve maximum scientific and logistic effectiveness; Identifying research areas or fields that might be best investigated by a SCAR Scientific Research Programme and establishing Scientific Programme Planning Groups to develop formal proposals to the Executive Committee; Establishing Action and Expert Groups to address specific research topics within the discipline. The three Standing Scientific Groups are: Standing Scientific Group on GeoSciences Standing Scientific Group on Life Sciences Standing Scientific Group on Physical Sciences

Scientific Research Programs ACE - Antarctic Climate Evolution SALE - Subglacial Antarctic Lake Exploration EBA - Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic AGCS - Antarctica and the Global Climate System AAA (replaced ICESTAR in 2010) …plus “Action Groups” and “Expert Groups”. New SRPs will be proposed in 2012 at the Oregon SCAR meeting

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica a new SCAR Scientific Research Program Image: © David A. Hardy/

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica (AAA) Timeline: 2006 Planning Group proposed, Hobart, Australia 2008 AAA SRP approved, Moscow, Russia 2009 First Planning Group meeting, Frascati, Italy 2009 Second Planning Group meeting, Rio de Janiero, Brazil 2010 Inaugural meeting of AAA SRP, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2011 Kick-off meeting, Sydney, Australia

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme Lyu Abe (France) [formerly Nicolas Epchtein] Michael Andersen (Denmark) Philip Anderson (United Kingdom) Michael Burton (Australia) Xiangqun Cui (China) Takashi Ichikawa (Japan) Albrecht Karle (USA) James Lloyd (USA) Silvia Masi (Italy) John Storey (Australia – Chief Officer) Hongyan Zhou (China) [fomerly Lifan Wang] Steering Committee:

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.

 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

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.

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

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme Beyond 2013 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.

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme Tony Travouillon (convenor), Caltech, USA Jon Lawrence (co-convenor), Australian Astronomical Observatory, Australia Phil Anderson, British Antarctic Survey, UK Eric Aristidi, University of Nice, France Michael Ashley, University of New South Wales, Australia Kim Finney, Australian Antarctic Division, Australia Zhaohui Shang, Tianjin Normal University, China Naruhisa Takato, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Japan Working Group A: Site Testing, Validation and Data Archiving

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme

Michael Andersen (Convenor), Denmark Eric Steinbring (Co-convenor), Canada Petre Popescu, Roumania Working Group B: Arctic site testing

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme Michael Burton (convenor), University of New South Wales, Australia Luc Dame, CNRS, France Albrecht Karle, University of Wisconsin ‐ Madison, USA Hans Zinnecker (co-convener), SOFIA Science Center, USA & Germany Nicolas Epchtein, Universite de Nice Sophia Antipolis, France Yuko Motizuki, RIKEN Nishina Center, Japan Jeremy Mould, Swinburne University, Australia Remko Stuik, Sterrewacht Leiden, Netherlands Charling Tao, Tsinghua University, China; CPPM, France Working Group C: Science Goals

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme Peter Tuthill (Convenor), Australia Xuefei Gong (Co-convenor), China Albrect Karle, USA John Kovac, USA Vladimir Papitashvili, USA Vincent Coude du Foresto, France Working Group D: Major new facilities

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme

Example science domains for major instruments -High-energy Particle Astrophysics -THz Astronomy -Single dish -Interferometer -IR Astronomy -Wide field imaging -Continuous cadence observing for variability/transients -Visible-light AO -Replacement for HST science after de-orbit? -Solar Astronomy -Optical Interferometry -Astrometry / Nulling / Imaging / Closure phase 25

Examples of new projects ProjectLeadersDescriptionLocation STO/HEATUSA0.5m THzBalloon/Ridge A AST3China3 x 0.5m SchmidtDome A PLTFrance2.5m wide-field IRDome C ASTFrance/Italy25m sub-mmDome C ALADDINFranceIR interferometerDome C KDUSTChina2 - 4m wide-field IRDome A FIRI-AUK/ESATHz interferometer? Additional optical/IR and THz telescopes planned for Dome F by Japan, and for Dome A by the China.

A Controversial Recommendation ? ›The International High Plateau Station? -In addition to existing national stations -When the site testing has determined the best place … (or is there a single best place?) -Offers many advantages in shared logistics -Greatly assist in building, maintaining & focusing international collaborations -Possible issues with national prestige, but would be in the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty (?) -Also of interest to Ice Core drilling, atmospheric physics? -Would require inter-governmental treaty cooperation at high levels -Allows smaller countries to jump aboard (e.g. Denmark, Indonesia?) 27

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme Upcoming meetings PLT project meeting, Marseilles, France ( September 2011) [This meeting] SCAR Open Science Conference, Portland, USA (July 2012) IAU General Assembly, Beijing, China (August 2012) - First IAU Symposium on Antarctic astronomy!

Astronomy & Astrophysics from Antarctica Scientific Research Programme Check out the web page!