Abstract
We can’t measure any light until it has passed through the atmosphere, or we have risen above the atmosphere to meet it. The atmosphere blocks light, distorts it, and creates a bright background that makes it hard to see faint objects. All these problems depend strongly on wavelength (or type of particle). In this chapter we look at how these effects arise, and how to get around them. We will examine in turn transmission, sky backgrounds, refraction and seeing, and the pros and cons of working in space.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Cohen, J., Spoelstra, T., Ambrosini, R., Van Driel, W. (eds.): CRAF Handbook for Radio Astronomy. European Science Foundation (2005)
Davies, R., Kasper, M.: Adaptive optics for astronomy. Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 50, 305–351 (2012)
Hanslmeier, A.: The Sun and Space Weather, 2nd edn. Kluwer (2008)
Hardy, J.W.: Adaptive Optics for Astronomical Telescopes. Oxford University Press, New York (1998)
Kivelson, M.G., Rusell, C.T. (eds.): An Introduction to Space Physics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge/New York (1995)
Lord, S.D.: NASA Technical Memoir 103957 (1992)
McLean, I.S.: Electronic Imaging in Astronomy, 2nd edn. Springer (2008)
Melia, F.: High Energy Astrophysics. Princeton University Press, Princeton (2009)
Patat, F., et al.: Optical atmospheric extinction over Cerro Paranal. Astron. Astrophys. 527, A91 (2011)
Wilson, T.L., Rohlfs, K., Hüttemeister, S.: Tools of Radio Astronomy, 5th edn. Springer (2009)
Stritzinger, M., et al.: An atlas of spectrophotometric landolt standard stars. PASP 117, 810 (2005)
Zombeck, M.V.: Handbook of Space Astronomy and Astrophysics, 3rd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2008) Websites (All Accessed March 2013):
CSO Atmospheric Transmission Interactive Plotter: http://www.submm.caltech.edu/cso/weather/atplot.shtml
IR transmission spectra: Gemini Observatory http://www.gemini.edu/sciops/telescopes-and-sites/observing-condition-constraints/ir-transmission-spectra
Radio Frequency Interference: Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/research/ska/rfi.html
Van Allen Probes website http://vanallenprobes.jhuapl.edu/science/overview.php
FEROS AAtmospheric Dispersion Corrector: European Southern Observatory http://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/lasilla/instruments/feros/Projects/ADC/index.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lawrence, A. (2014). The Atmosphere and How to Avoid it. In: Astronomical Measurement. Springer Praxis Books(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39835-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39835-3_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-39834-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-39835-3
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)