PILOT - the Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope - is a proposed 2.4m aperture optical/IR telescope to be sited at Concordia Station, Dome C, Antarctica. PILOT would be placed on a 30m tower to get above the majority of the turbulent boundary layer, and from there would enjoy the lowest infrared backgrounds and best seeing conditions of any telescope on earth. The preliminary science case for PILOT was published in 2005 by Burton et al.
In November 2006 the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training announced funding of A$1m (~€600k) via its NCRIS program for a design study of PILOT. The technical component of this study is being conducted by the Anglo-Australian Observatory. PILOT is proposed as a joint Australian-European project, with European coordination under the auspices of ARENA.
Contacts
- Project Leader: John Storey
- Project Manager: Roger Haynes
- Telescope Scientist: Will Saunders
