Abstract
PRESENT knowledge of the physical nature of the interstellar grains is based principally on interpretations of the observed extinction and polarization of starlight. Some scattering of the galactic radiation field by the interstellar grains must occur and it is recognized that a precise determination of the brightness of such a diffuse galactic light can also contribute to our knowledge of the grains. Since the first investigations of the diffuse light by Elvey and Roach1 in 1937 there have been further studies by Henyey and Greenstein2, van Houten3 (using the measurements of the brightness distribution in the Milky Way by Elsässer and Haug4) and Roach and Smith5. Unfortunately the results of these four investigations are in considerable disagreement. Two important sources of this disagreement arise from uncertainties in assessing (1) the contributions to the observed brightness of the airglow, zodiacal light and light scattered by the Earth's atmosphere; (2) the contributions from faint stars, the integrated starlight.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Elvey, C. T., and Roach, F. E., Astrophys. J., 85, 231 (1937).
Henyey, L. G., and Greenstein, J. L., Astrophys. J., 93, 70 (1941).
van Houten, C. J., Bull. Astro. Netherlands, 16, No. 509 (1961).
Elsässer, H., and Haug, U., Z. f. Astrophys., 50, 121 (1960).
Roach, F. E., and Smith, L. L., Nat. Bur. Stand. Tech. Not., 214 (1964).
Packer, D. M., Ann. de Géoph., 17, 67 (1961).
Bottlinger, K. F., Z. f. Astrophys., 4, 370 (1932).
Roach, F. E., and Megill, L. R., Astrophys. J., 133, 228 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WOLSTENCROFT, R., ROSE, L. Interstellar Grains and the Diffuse Galactic Light. Nature 209, 388–389 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/209388a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/209388a0
This article is cited by
-
On the weakness of diffuse galactic light off the Milky Way
Astrophysics and Space Science (1970)
-
Interpretation of the Diffuse Galactic Light
Nature (1968)
-
Unified Model for Interstellar Extinction and Polarization
Nature (1967)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
