Ridge A

Ridge A is a high point on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, located near Dome A. It is considered one of the best locations on Earth for astronomical observation. It is the absolute coldest place of Earth, and temperatures there can drop to -90°C to -100°C at a clear winter night.

Geography and Climate

Ridge A is at an elevation of about 4,053 meters (13,297 feet) on the Antarctic Plateau. It is an extremely remote and cold area, but its key feature is its exceptionally calm atmosphere. There is very little wind, and the air is extremely dry and stable. This makes the sky above Ridge A incredibly clear. Ridge A is the coldest place on Earth, and temperatures there are −70 °C (−94 °F) in winter and it is possible that this site may have even lower temperatures than Dome A, with temperatures that might reach as low as or even colder than the legendary mark of -100°C (-148°F).[1][2] Ridge A was identified by a team of Australian and American scientists searching for the best observatory spot in the world.[1] The team leader described the site as "so calm there's almost no wind or weather there at all."[3]

Scientific Importance

Due to its unique atmospheric conditions, Ridge A is an excellent place to build telescopes. The clear, dry air and lack of turbulence from wind mean that light from stars and other celestial objects is not distorted. At winter during polar night, the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) is also often visible above Ridge A. This allows telescopes to get very sharp and detailed images, making it an ideal site for infrared and submillimeter astronomy. Scientists believe in 2009 the conditions at Ridge A are even better than those at the best observatories in the world, like those in Chile and Hawaii.[1]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Saunders, Will; Lawrence, Jon S.; Storey, John W. V.; Ashley, Michael C. B.; Kato, Seiji; Minnis, Patrick; Winker, David M.; Liu, Guiping & Kulesa, Craig (2009), "Where Is the Best Site on Earth? Domes A, B, C, and F, and Ridges A and B", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 121 (883): 976–992, arXiv:0905.4156, Bibcode:2009PASP..121..976S, doi:10.1086/605780, S2CID 11166739
  2. ↑ Ridge A - best place for astronomy research on Earth, Wondermondo, 27 September 2010
  3. ↑ Kenber, Billy. "Scientists identify coldest place on earth", The Telegraph, September 1, 2009. Accessed September 9, 2009.
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