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Observations of the Zodiacal Light at 2.4 µm

Nature Physical Science volume 243, pages 140–141 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

Measurements of the near infrared surface brightness of the zodiacal light were obtained by a balloon-borne telescope launched in October 1972 from the NCAR balloon flight station, Palestine, Texas. Because of the intensive OH air-glow1 zodiacal light observations in the near infrared are in general not possible from the ground2 and not even from balloon altitudes, except for a gap of Δλ = 0.3 µm in the airglow spectrum at λ = 2.4 µm. At a float altitude of 32 km the atmospheric absorption in the near infrared is negligible. Moreover, the dryness there permits the use of an actively cooled instrument.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, 69 Heidelberg-Königstuhl

    W. HOFMANN, D. LEMKE, C. THUM & U. FAHRBACH

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  1. W. HOFMANN
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  2. D. LEMKE
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  3. C. THUM
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  4. U. FAHRBACH
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HOFMANN, W., LEMKE, D., THUM, C. et al. Observations of the Zodiacal Light at 2.4 µm. Nature Physical Science 243, 140–141 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci243140a0

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