Site Testing Antarctica for Astronomy

The Antarctic Plateau provides the pre eminent sites on the surface of the Earth for many types of astronomical observation We have em barked on a site testing programme to quantify the ultimate sensitivity levels achievable The programme is now in operation at the South Pole where an infrared sky brightness monitor and micro thermal temperature sensors have been deployed We plan to extend these measurements rst at the Pole and then to the highest parts of the Plateau Domes Argus and Circe The latter will involve adapting an Automated Geophysical Observatory a mobile laboratory designed for autonomous operation on the Plateau for astrophysical purposes