Project information
Project aim
New technologies permit terahertz frequency astronomical observations, but only from select locations on the Earth's surface. We shall install a terahertz-capable radiotelescope on the highest point of the Antarctic plateau, the best terrestial site for such an instrument, thus opening a significant new astronomical window before planned satellites do. Our scientific aims include the first terahertz imaging of molecular clouds within the Galaxy, key components in the formation and evolution of planets, stars and galaxies.
Related publications
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PLATO Power - a robust, low environmental impact power generation system for the Antarctic plateau Proceedings of SPIE 7012, 70124E1-10, 2008
(Ref: 13764)
Category 3: Conference paper
PLATO (PLATeau Observatory) is the third-generation astronomical site-testing laboratory designed by the University … of New South Wales. This facility is operating autonomously to collect both scientific and site-testing data from … Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau…
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The PLATO Antarctic site testing observatory Proceedings of SPIE 7012, 7012271-11, 2008
(Ref: 13763)
Authors:Category 3: Conference paper
Over a decade of site testing in Antarctica has shown that both South Pole and Dome C are exceptional sites for … astronomy, with certain atmospheric conditions superior to those at existing mid-latitude sites. However, the highest … point on the Antarctic plateau, Dome A…
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Pre-HEAT: submillimeter site testing and astronomical spectra from Dome A, Antarctica Proceedings of SPIE 7012, 7012491-11, 2008
(Ref: 13765)
Authors:Category 3: Conference paper
Pre-HEAT is a 20 cm aperture submillimeter-wave telescope with a 660 GHz (450 micron) Schottky diode heterodyne … receiver and digital FFT spectrometer for the Plateau Observatory (PLATO) developed by the University of New South … Wales. In January 2008 it was deployed to Dome A…
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Astrophysics from Dome A Proceedings of the 2nd ARENA Conference, EAS Publications Series, 2008
(Ref: 13762)
Authors:Category 3: Conference paper
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Does your robot need a flamethrower? Automated astronomical instrumentation in Antarctica Astronomische Nachrichten, 2008
(Ref: 13772)
Category 1: Peer-reviewed literature
The Antarctic Plateau contains sites with the potential to be the best in the world for many astronomical observations. The Plateau has strong advantages in the waveband between thermal-IR and millimetre-waves, for time-based astronomy, and for adaptive optics and interferometry.