In the June Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Suzanne Kenyon (University of New South Wales, Australia) and her colleagues report that the atmospheric turbulence at the Dome C site is exceptionally low. The still air, combined with the high elevation (3.5 kilometers or 2 miles), tiny amount of annual snowfall, and absence of auroras seem to make Dome C a godsend for astronomers seeking the next great telescope site. And for dedicated star-gazers, a bit of cold isn't going to drive them away.
"The working conditions and accomodation are fairly comfortable," says Kenyon. "Although it is cold, the lack of wind and the dry atmosphere mean that working outside is not a big issue."
Currently, the best sites in the world have ''seeing'' ratings between 0.5 and 1.0 arcsecond, the smallest separation they can resolve. But several recent experiments have shown that seeing at Dome C is often as good as 0.07 arcsecond almost as sharp as Hubble's 0.05.
Lured by the promise of the world's finest seeing, several groups are pushing for funds to build telescopes at the site, starting with a 2.4-meter optical, followed by an 8-meter, and, maybe one day, a giant 25-meter. If successful, the groups' high-tech telescopes combined with Dome C's superior seeing could make the isolated Antarctic plateau the greatest and coldest star party ever.