SOUTH POL: Revealing the Polarized Southern Sky

TL;DR

SOUTH POL is a planned optical polarimetric survey of the southern sky using a new polarimeter on a robotic telescope, aiming to provide high-accuracy polarization data across various astrophysical fields.

Contribution

It introduces a novel polarimetric survey of the southern sky with a dedicated instrument and detailed observational plan, filling a gap in polarization data.

Findings

Survey will cover south of declination -15° in two years.

Achieves polarimetric accuracy below 0.1% down to V=15.

Will impact multiple areas in astronomy including cosmology and star formation.

Abstract

SOUTH POL will be a survey of the Southern sky in optical polarized light. It will use a newly designed polarimetric module at an 80cm Robotic Telescope. Telescope and polarimeter will be installed at CTIO, Chile, in late 2012. The initial goal is to cover the sky south of declination -15{\deg} in two years of observing time, aiming at a polarimetric accuracy \lesssim 0.1% down to V=15, with a camera covering a field of about 2.0 square degrees. SOUTH POL will impact areas such as Cosmology, Extragalactic Astronomy, Interstellar Medium of the Galaxy and Magellanic Clouds, Star Formation, Stellar Envelopes, Stellar explosions and Solar System, among others.