THE MEASUREMENT OF THE POLARIZATION AND BRIGHTNESS DISTRIBUTION OF VENUS AT 10.6 CM WAVELENGTH,
Abstract
Measurements of the brightness distribution and differential polarization over the surface of the planet Venus have been made at a wavelength of 10.6 cm with two element interferometers with baselines of up to 6500 lambda. These measurements establish that most of the 10 cm radiation from Venus comes from a compact surface. The direct measurements indicate a dielectric constant epsilon = 2.2, which becomes epsilon = 2.5 when a correction is made for the roughness of the surface. Measurements of the brightness distribution indicate that the poles are about 25% cooler than the equator, and that the terminator may be slightly hotter than the antisolar point. The true temperature derived for the antisolar point is 630 = 70 KK. A rough determination of the direction of the axis of Venus was made, confining it to within a solid angle of about 0.5 steradian. The inclination of the equator of Venus to the ecliptic appears to be about 20 degrees. The diameter of the radio emitting region was found to be 12114 = 110 km, 0.7 = 0.9% less than the ephemeris diameter. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0457724
Entities
People
- A. D. Kuz'min
- B. G. Clark
Organizations
- Owens Valley Radio Observatory