The Brightness Distribution over the Moon's Disk at 6 cm Wavelength
Abstract
On November 27, 1974, a map of the Moon was obtained at 6 cm wavelength with the 100-m-telescope in Effelsberg. The high angular and favourable temperature resolution allowed an interpretation of the observed brightness distribution. The dominant feature of the brightness distribution is the centre-to-limb variation, particularly noticeable in the direction of the poles. The exponentα of the commonly adopted cos α (ψ)-law, describing the temperature variation across the lunar disk, is determined asα ≃ 0.4. The North-South variation of the lunar surface temperature is estimated to be 30%; the depth of penetration (L e) of electromagnetic waves of 6 cm wavelength is found to beL e ≃ 17 m.
- Publication:
-
Moon
- Pub Date:
- September 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF00562243
- Bibcode:
- 1976Moon...15..317H
- Keywords:
-
- Brightness Temperature;
- Lunar Maps;
- Lunar Temperature;
- Surface Temperature;
- Temperature Distribution;
- Angular Resolution;
- Electromagnetic Wave Transmission;
- Lunar Limb;
- Microwave Frequencies;
- Telescopes;
- Thermal Emission;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration