POLARIMETRIC OBSERVATIONS OF PLANETS AND SATELLITES.
Abstract
The purpose of the program is to investigate the physical properties of the surfaces of the planets, the Moon, the satellites, and asteroids of the Solar System, by means of polarimetric studies, using new photoelectric polarimeters which have become available since the recent development of photomultiplier techniques. Observations require the use of a large telescope, and we have improved especially for this purpose the old 40-in reflector of Meudon Observatory, out of use for a quarter of a century. Observations also require electric polarimeters of very high sensitivity for different wavelength ranges, and we designed three different instruments covering, respectively, the visible spectrum, the near infra-red, and the infra-red. Phototubes carefully selected for the highest sensitivity obtainable are employed, and are exploited with the most refined thechniques to take ful dvantage of the sensitivity. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 30, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0415325
Entities
People
- Audouin Dollfus
Organizations
- Paris Observatory, PSL University