STELLAR IRRADIANCE MEASUREMENTS
Abstract
The results of a scan of the night sky in three spectral regions of the infrared are presented. Radiometer with instantaneous field-of-view and a nodding Newtonian secondary mirror was used in the study to obtain the results over a six weeks observation period in which 18% of the sky was scanned in the near IR. Several bright IR sources were detected which would not have been expected on the basis of extrapolation of their visual properties and assumed temperatures. It is shown that such extrapolation of the supposed blackbody properties of stars to predict infrared magnitudes becomes progressively less reliable for the cooler stars and may fail by many magnitudes for the M7 and M8 classifications. A number of sources were detected which do not correlate with the position of any known stars brighter than eighth visual magnitude; some stars show much greater IR brightness than expected, which may indicate the presf cool companion stars. The method of data recording and an assessment of accuracy and reliability of the results are presented and recommendations made for a more comprehensive survey to allow a proper understanding of the infrared background which might be experienced in space.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0404717
Entities
People
- Freeman F. Hall Jr.
Organizations
- ITT Corporation