The color of the zodiacal light and the size distribution and composition of interplanetary dust
Abstract
The color of the zodiacal light is studied in the general context of light scattered by dust particles. It is shown that the color is controlled by various mechanisms in a complex way. The spectral variation of the complex index of refraction, the size distribution function and the roughness of the dust grains all play a significant role in the color of the scattered light. It is also shown that the very geometrical conditions of observation of the zodiacal light result in a color effect which depends upon the elongation.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- December 1989
- Bibcode:
- 1989A&A...226..288P
- Keywords:
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- Color;
- Interplanetary Dust;
- Light Scattering;
- Particle Size Distribution;
- Zodiacal Light;
- Chemical Composition;
- Computational Astrophysics;
- Astrophysics