Potential optical astronomical sites in less developed countries

Abstract

A “suitability index for astronomical sites” (SIAS) has been proposed to more easily select the best sites in the world as regards cloud cover, elevation, and artificial light. The SIAS brings new and great potential for countries with few resources, typically less developed countries (LDCs). However, it lacks crucial quantitative astronomical seeing information, quite expensive to gather (for this, we have developed a new technique and portable instrument to lower the costs of measuring the seeing). Good seeing exists on the up-wind edge of a mountain top with a greater than 1:3 slope angle towards laminar flow dominating winds (coastal sites or small islands). By inspecting with Google Earth the terrain and surrounding area of each SIAS-selected candidate site as regards the mountain height and slopes, the distance from the nearest sea/lake, and its mountainous neighborhood, we have shortlisted the best 13 sites for optical astronomy in eight LDCs.