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The 40th Chinese Antarctic Scientific Expedition carried out the first near-infrared astronomical observation and full-time monitoring of the near-Earth space environment at the Kunlun Station in Antarctica, and successfully measured the key data such as the near-infrared skylight background in the whole sky of the Kunlun Station, which provided a solid foundation for the Kunlun Station to carry out year-round air-space observations. This key equipment applies the key technology of self-developed low-temperature resistant optical tube and fully sealed direct drive motor, which significantly improves the environmental adaptability of the equipment. Kunlun Station is located in the Ice Dome A area, the highest point of the Antarctic ice sheet, with a thin and clean atmosphere and extremely superior astronomical observation conditions. After entering the polar night, the unmanned near-infrared telescope will carry out time-domain astronomical observations in collaboration with the Antarctic Survey Telescope AST3-2 at the station through remote control, filling the gap of near-infrared observation at Kunlun station.
The development of the near-infrared telescope and the observation experiment of Kunlun Station were funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFC2807300) and the National Natural Science Program of China (11973037), and jointly implemented by the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Polar Research Center (China Polar Research Institute). The on-site observation experiment of Kunlun Station was supported by the 40th Chinese Antarctic Scientific Expedition and greatly assisted by all members of the Kunlun Station.
Fig.1 Panorama of the Kunlun near-infrared telescope.
Fig.2 Antarctic Survey Telescope AST3-2
Fig.3 Close-up view of the Kunlun near-infrared telescope.
Fig.4. Debugging of the Kunlun near-infrared telescope.
Fig.5. Near-infrared filters.