The Kunlun Station team of China's 41st Antarctic expedition recently completed the scientific research tasks for the astronomical site monitoring project. They conducted astronomical observations for the first time using infrared water vapor absorption windows.

During the inland expedition, the team installed a 1.4-micron filter on the Antarctic Infrared Binocular Telescope (AIRBT). This filter corresponds to the water vapor absorption band, which is significant for studying water vapor in cool stars and planetary atmospheres.

The Antarctic Infrared Binocular Telescope (AIRBT) at Kunlun Station, developed by Sun Yat-sen University and the National Astronomical Observatory, was installed in January 2023. (Photos provided to the People's Daily)

The team successfully observed the red giant star HD 29712 in the 1.4-micron band and plans to monitor several bright, low-temperature red giant stars during the polar day. During the polar night, they will observe dim red dwarf stars and brown dwarf stars and conduct the world's first large-scale sky survey in the 1.4-micron band. This survey is expected to discover more celestial bodies with water vapor absorption characteristics, providing insights into the formation and evolution of these rare objects.

Additionally, the team installed a turbulence profiling instrument at Kunlun Station to measure the vertical profiles of low-level atmospheric turbulence at night using lunar scintillation. This data will support the development of adaptive optical instruments for future telescopes. The team also maintained existing equipment at Kunlun Station, including a seeing monitor, weather station and aurora detector, and retrieved data collected in 2024.

The Kunlun Turbulence Profiler (KLTP), newly installed at Kunlun Station during this scientific expedition, was developed by the National Astronomical Observatory. 

During the expedition, the Kunlun Station team also completed a snow and ice environment survey along the Zhongshan Station–Kunlun Station transect and conducted atmospheric oxidation environment studies using Antarctic snow and ice nitrate indicators. They also repaired the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reference station observation equipment at Kunlun Station.

Reports indicate that the team departed Kunlun Station on January 19 and is expected to arrive at Taishan Station on January 26.