Papers
2
Total Citations
47
H-Index
2
About
Xiangqun Cui is a pioneering figure in Antarctic astronomy, best known for her leadership in deploying and operating the first astronomical observatory at Dome A, the highest point on the Antarctic plateau. Her research focuses on site characterization, optical sky brightness, and time-domain astrophysics in extreme environments. Cui led the Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) project, which produced the first point-source catalog from Dome A, a landmark dataset that has garnered over 40 citations and demonstrated the site’s exceptional potential for uninterrupted, high-cadence observations. She also spearheaded the Nigel experiment, a fiber-fed spectrograph that measured optical sky brightness from 300 to 850 nm, revealing Dome A’s superior dark-sky conditions—critical for future large-scale surveys. Her work has fundamentally shaped our understanding of Dome A as one of Earth’s best ground-based astronomical sites. Cui’s contributions have been instrumental in advancing China’s Antarctic astronomy program, and her efforts have paved the way for the planned Kunlun Dark Universe Telescope, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in polar astrophysics.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1The First Release of the CSTAR Point Source Catalog from Dome A, Antarctica40 citations · 2010
- 2Optical sky brightness at Dome A, Antarctica, from the Nigel experiment7 citations · 2010