Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Attempt to assess astronomical “seeing” using a model

  • Published:
Astrophysics and Space Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The degradation of astronomic images by optical inhomogeneities in the earth's atmosphere is generally called “seeing”. It represents the angular diameter of the stellar images as seen through a turbulent medium. Several techniques can be used to determine this parameter. The knowledge of the optical strength of atmospheric turbulence, namely, the integrated structure coefficient of the atmospheric refractive index Cn 2 allows to predict the atmospheric optical quality in terms of seeing. We tried in this study to assess an astronomical seeing using a model forecast using meteorological data collected in three stations in Latin America from 1958 to 1991. The efficiency of the model is tested by comparison with simultaneous seeing measurements, at Chiliean astronomical sites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Coulman, C.E., 1985, Fundamental and applied aspect of astronomical “seeing”, Astron. Astrophys,23, 19–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coulman, C.E., Vernin, J., Coqueugniot, Y., and Caccia, J. L., 1988: Outer scale of turbulence appropriate to modeling refractive index structure profiles. Applied Optics,27, 155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roddier, F., 1981, The effects of atmospheric turbulence in optical astronomy, Progress in Optics,19, 281–376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarazin, M. and Roddier, F., 1990, the ESO differential image motion monitor, Astron. Astrophys.,227, 294–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarazin, M., 1990: VLT Site selection working group, Report n° 62 European Southern Observatory.

  • Tatarski, V. I., 1961, Wave propagation in a turbutent medium, Dover, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valenziano, L., 1995, Astronomical seeing estimation in Antartica, Exp. Astron., in press.

  • Vernin, J., 1986: Astronomical site selection: a new meteorological approach, SPIE Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes III,628, 142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vernin, J., and Muñoz-Tuñon, C., 1992, Optical Seeing at La Palma Observatory. I General guidelines and preliminary results at the Nordic Optical Telescope, Astron. Astrophys.257, 811–816.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear Physics and Techniques Laboratory. Department of Physics. Faculty of sciences Semlalia, University Cadi Ayyad, BP S15, Marrakech, Morroco

    Z. Benkhaldoun & A. Jabiri

  2. Department of Astrophysique. U.R.A. 709 C.N.R.S., University Nice-Sophia Antipolis, 06108, Nice Cedex2, France

    J. Vernin

Authors
  1. Z. Benkhaldoun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Jabiri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Vernin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Benkhaldoun, Z., Jabiri, A. & Vernin, J. Attempt to assess astronomical “seeing” using a model. Astrophys Space Sci 239, 237–245 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00645778

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00645778

Key words

Search

Navigation