SELENODETIC MEASUREMENTS FROM THE ANNULAR ECLIPSE OF 23 NOVEMBER 1965.

Abstract

The 23 November 1965 Annular Solar Eclipse was observed by a Lockheed-USAF Expedition from a site near Chiengmai in Northern Thailand. Solar images approximately 6.5 inches in diameter were formed by a 12 inch aperture, f-57 concave mirror fed by a coelostat. Twenty photographs nearest the central phase of the eclipse were measured to determine the profile of the moon as presented against the circular solar disk. The data derived from these observations, after compensation for the various errors that could influence the results, compare reasonably well with Watts 'Atlas of the Marginal Zone of the Moon' as to local irregularities. For the general shape, however, a discrepancy occurs. Watts finds a spherical datum satisfactory. The results of this eclipse confirm the results of the 1962 eclipse (at essentially the same libration) and indicate the existence of a general equatorial bulge. The two eclipses agree that the equatorial radius is of the order of 5km. greater than the polar radius. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0646249

Entities

People

  • D. G. Carson
  • L. G. Stoddard

Organizations

  • Lockheed Martin

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coelostats
  • Compensation
  • Diameters
  • Eclipses
  • Images
  • Measurement
  • Mirrors
  • Observation
  • Photographic Materials
  • Photographs
  • Photography
  • Shape
  • Solar Eclipses
  • Thailand

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.