2006/01/01 by Enno Middelberg, Robert J. Sault, Michael J. Kesteven · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Atmosphere (unit) #Atmospheric instability #Atmospheric turbulence #Backup #Path (computing) #Phase (matter) #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Statistical analysis #Telescope #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1071/as06019
accepted for publication in PASA; needs aas_macros.sty
openalex publication_date 2006/01/01 · arxiv created 2006/09/27 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Abstract We present the design of, and a first analysis of data from, the atmospheric seeing monitor at the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The seeing monitor has been operational almost continuously since 2004 May and every 10min delivers a measurement of the atmospheric phase stability at the observatory. Its measurements can be used by observers to help in deciding whether it is worth carrying out observations at millimetre wavelengths or whether a longer-wavelength backup project should be observed. We present a statistical analysis of the data recorded since 2004 September to characterize the annual variations in atmospheric path length fluctuations. Our analysis shows that in terms of phase stability, nights in spring, summer, and autumn are as good as, or better than, days in winter. We also find that the data imply that the turbulence in the lower few hundred metres of the atmosphere is predominantly responsible for the atmospheric seeing.