Studies in support of the analysis of astronomical data from Apollo 16
Abstract
The Apollo Gamma Ray Spectrometer which was part of the scientific instrument module aboard Apollo 16 obtained more than 20 hours of astronomical data near the end of the transearth coast phase of the mission. During this time the vehicle was maneuvered so that every part of the sky as seen by the spectrometer was eventually occulted by the spacecraft, providing a valuable data base for gamma ray astronomy in the 100 keV to 5 MeV spectral range. Schemes classified according to the underlying assumed source distribution are analyzed. It is known that there is at least one point source, the Crab, and it can be seen in the data. Methods for data analysis are shown. In one method looking only for point sources, some preliminary results concerning the Crab nebula are presented which confirm previous measurement of the strength of that source.
- Publication:
-
Cornell Univ. Final Report
- Pub Date:
- March 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976cuni.rept.....G
- Keywords:
-
- Apollo 16 Flight;
- Gamma Rays;
- Spectrometers;
- Statistical Analysis;
- Crab Nebula;
- Lunar Surface;
- Radiation Detectors;
- Radioactivity;
- Astronomy