SAO Board - DV trip going to Thule, Summit, Kanger, Ilulissat (Award# SAOBoard)

PI Institute/Department Email
Hogan, Sarah Elizabeth
Harvard-Smithsonian Center For Astrophysics
Award#(s)
SAOBoard
IPY Project?
No
Funding Agency
US\Federal\SAO
Program Manager Funding Agency Email
Mercer, Dr. Jennifer
NSF, Office of Polar Programs
Discipline(s)
Education and Outreach
Science Summary
The key objectives of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) 12m radio antenna research are to provide direct confirmation of a Super Massive Black Hole (SMBH) by observing it in the active galaxy M87. It is currently surveying Thule Air Base’s (TAB’s) atmospheric opacity at 230 GHz. Deployment at TAB enables the team to test functionality, measure characteristics, make critical adjustments and observe astronomical sources.
Logistics Summary

This project is related to the SAO 12m radio antenna that is currently installed and operating at Thule Air Base (TAB) in Greenland to investigate the possibility of installation at Summit Station for higher frequency Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and submillimeter operation. Summit Station would enable triangulation with the Submillimeter Array in Hawaii, Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) and other radio dishes, to become a part of the next generation Event Horizon Telescope, a project aiming to improve upon the successful first ever image of a black hole's shadow, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope project. Additionally, in order to fully utilize higher resolution 345 GHz receivers, the telescope needs to operate in a drier environment like Summit Station. In August 2022, a group of approximately 20 Distinguished Visitors will utilize Air National Guard (ANG) flights between TAB and Kangerlussuaq, and for a day trip to Summit Station. This group of potential donors will tour current facilities, learn about the telescope operations, and visit Summit Station as a possible future site for the radio antenna.

Battelle ARO will provide project management and administrative support, coordination/purchase of Embassy flights from Copenhagen to TAB, and ANG flights to Kangerlussuaq and Summit Station. All other logistics will be organized and paid for by SAO.
Season Field Site #People
2022
Greenland - Summit
20