Preliminary results of sky brightness measurements in near-infrared at Lenghu, China

TL;DR

This study reports preliminary measurements of near-infrared sky brightness at Lenghu, China, indicating its suitability for astronomical observations and providing baseline data for future long-term monitoring.

Contribution

First near-infrared sky brightness measurements at Lenghu, China, demonstrating its potential as a high-quality astronomical site.

Findings

Near-infrared sky brightness at Lenghu is comparable to world-class sites.

Sky brightness varies with solar elevation.

Baseline data established for future long-term monitoring.

Abstract

Low sky brightness is crucial for ground-based astronomical observations, because it limits the observational capability to detect fainter sources. Lenghu, located on the Tibetan Plateau in China, has been identified as an high-quality astronomical site in China, including dark sky in optical band. In this work, we will report the preliminary results of near-infrared sky brightness measurements at Lenghu. Utilizing a wide-field small telescope equipped with an InGaAs camera, we have been conducting long-term monitoring of near-infrared sky brightness in the J and H' bands, respectively, since January 2024. For each image, photometry and astrometry were performed, then sky background was calibrated by standard stars from the 2MASS catalog. This report includes preliminary results on the sky brightness at zenith in the J and H' bands, as well as their variations with solar elevation at Lenghu. Our initial results indicate that the near-infrared sky brightness at Lenghu is comparable to that of other world-class sites, and long-term monitoring will be continued.