Measurement and analysis of sky brightness in tae-3: A case study in Antarctica

Abstract

Astronomers and atmospheric scientists usually use light from the sky to analyze the universe and atmosphere we live in. Light travels a long way in the atmosphere, scattered by aerosols and molecules. As a result, the natural glow in the sky deteriorates and increases. Sky brightness is caused by two main sources as artificial and natural. Basic parameters are the sunlight reflected from the moon and the earth, the diffusion of star lights in the atmosphere, the Zodiac Light, and the Aurora. The secondary parameters are artificial resources. Incorrect urban lighting planning is one of the biggest reasons for this. To observe the fainter stars and small changes in the sky, it is necessary to have a very dark sky and the sky brightness should be less than 19 magnitudes. The night-sky brightness can be used as an environmental assessment indicator to characterize the relative intensity of light pollution. The night-sky brightness was measured and monitored around Antarctica Horseshoe Island using a portable light-sensing device called "The Sky Quality Meter" for about a month in TAE-3 (Turkish Antarctic Expedition 3) that took place between 03.02.2019-01.03.2019. These measurements are taken between 62 and 67 degrees Southern Latitudes. The Sky Quality Meter (SQM) is a device that can instantaneously measure the brightness of the night sky in units of mag/arcsec², the international unit for measuring sky brightness. The positions of moonrise/moonset, sunrise/sunset, civil/nautical, and astronomical twilight which cause poor sky quality when observing the sky are calculated. The cloud cover and temperature, to study astronomical and meteorological parameters were measured as well. Before the start of each phase, training was provided to all parameters on the procedures in using the SQMs to take night sky brightness data. For the measurement results, the lowest value of the device is expected as mag/arcsec². This value can be shown as the sensitivity of the device to the brightness of the sun. Looking at the values measured during February, the highest value; 20.39 mag/arcsec², was equal to the values in cities with normal light pollution. Particulate values ​​measured throughout the expedition are observed to affect the sky quality measurements adversely and it was determined that there was an inverse ratio between the number of particles and the visibility ratio of Aurora. For a better view of the night sky for several scientific reasons, monitoring atmospheric parameters and brightness elements is really important. Our project continued within the scope of TAE-4 and a comparative analysis of its measurements was carried out. In addition to continuing sky quality measurements, monitoring the visibility of Aurora and the change in the number of particles is of great importance for future studies. Keywords: Antarctica, Light Pollution, Sky Quality