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At least 271 records · Page 15

The shadow band phenomenon

Shadow band phenomenon observed during solar eclipses and visible only minutes preceeding and following totality

Daly, C. J.↗

The shadow band phenomenon

Shadow band observations during 7 March 1970 solar eclipse, determining spectral energy distribution from magnetic tape recordings of collimated photocells output

Daly, C. J.↗

The shadow band phenomenon.

Observation of shadow bands during the solar eclipse of Mar. 7, 1970. Data were gathered by recording onto magnetic tape of the output from six collimated photocells whose spectral responses ranged from the ultraviolet to the infrared, and by visual and mechanical measurement of the orientation and motion of the bands. The recorded data were later processed using the output from a frequency spectrum analyzer. Most of the energy of the shadow bands ranges between 1 and 25 Hz, and appears not unlike plots of scintillation spectra. The onset, amplitude, and duration of the shadow bands seem to be spectrally related to the limb darkening of the sun's photosphere. Other results of the experiment conclusively indicate that the shadow band phenomenon is a manifestation of atmospheric turbulence in the form of air packets of different density from that of their environment (density schlieren), made visible by the light from the crescent sun.

Quann, J. J.↗

The electromagnetic structure of interplanetary space

A method to calculate the three-dimensional structure of the interplanetary magnetic field is presented. The integrations are based on magnetograph recordings of longitudinal magnetic fields in the solar photosphere. The program by Altschuler and Newkirk is used to calculate the radial component of the magnetic field on the source surface, situated at r = 2.6r. This determines the inner boundary conditions for the integration outwards of the interplanetary field equations by means of the method that is described. Computer-drawn plots of the interplanetary field lines out to the earth's orbit are presented for the periods around the total solar eclipses of November 12, 1966, and March 7, 1970. During the former period the interplanetary field exhibited a clean, dipole-type structure, while during the latter period the field was more complicated and had four sectors in the equatorial plane. A movie was presented, showing how the interplanetary field structure rotates as seen by a magnetometer in the sun's equatorial plane.

Stenflo, J. O.↗

Large-scale solar magnetic fields and H-alpha patterns

Coronal and interplanetary magnetic fields computed from measurements of large-scale photospheric magnetic fields suffer from interruptions in day-to-day observations and the limitation of using only measurements made near the solar central meridian. Procedures were devised for inferring the lines of polarity reversal from H-alpha solar patrol photographs that map the same large-scale features found on Mt. Wilson magnetograms. These features may be monitored without interruption by combining observations from the global network of observatories associated with NOAA's Space Environment Services Center. The patterns of inferred magnetic fields may be followed accurately as far as 60 deg from central meridian. Such patterns will be used to improve predictions of coronal features during the next solar eclipse.

Mcintosh, P. S.↗

Recent results from satellite beacon measurements

A review is made of the techniques for measuring ionospheric electron content, the most important parameter in the study of transionospheric propagation. Data collected since 1964 have yielded a synoptic description of the behavior of the electron content in mid-latitudes. Empirical relationships between the level of solar activity and the electron content have been developed permitting the prognostication of the electron content values. Marked discrepancies between prognostication and observation which occur during ionospheric storms are being studied to identify their causes. Electron content bite-outs during solar eclipses fall off with distance from totality more rapidly than simple theory predicts suggesting the action of eclipse induced neutral winds. Gravity waves propagating in the thermosphere leave a signature in the electron content records. Studies of such records have allowed the identification of the position of the gravity wave source, and its radiation pattern.

Da Rosa, A. V.↗

The accelerations of the earth and moon from early astronomical observations

An investigation has compiled a very large amount of data on central or near central solar eclipses as recorded in four principal ancient sources (Greek and Roman classics, medieval European chronicles, Chinese annals and astronomical treatises, and Late Babylonian astronomical texts) and applied careful data selectivity criteria and statistical methods to obtain reliable dates, magnitudes, and places of observation of the events, and thereby made estimates of the earth acceleration and lunar acceleration. The basic conclusion is that the lunar acceleration and both tidal and nontidal earth accelerations have been essentially constant during the period from 1375 B.C. to the present.

Muller, P. M.↗

Measurement of stray radiance in the High Altitude Observatory's Skylab coronagraph

The paper outlines two techniques used for determining the instrumental stray radiance from orbital results obtained with the Skylab white light coronagraph. The first technique employs images of the lunar disk made near the time of solar eclipse to compare the apparent contrasts of maria and highlands recorded by the coronograph with those of previous studies and then determine the magnitude of the stray radiance and its variation along a radius. The second method determines the azimuthal variation of the stray radiance by measuring the change in the net radiance of a point in the coronal images as the image is rotated.

Csoeke-Poeckh, A.↗

CTS attenuation and cross-polarization measurements at 11.7 GHz

The results of data obtained 80 days preceding the solar eclipse shutdown of the CTS 11.7 GHz righthand circularly polarized beacon transmitter are presented. Attenuation and cross polarization isolation were measured. It was determined that depolarization presents a serious limitation to satellite system reliability when frequency reuse by polarization diversity is employed. A 27 db isolation margin would reduce reliability below 99.95%. For the same percentage the required fade margin was below 3 db.

Vogel, W. J.↗

Recent sounding rocket highlights and a concept for melding sounding rocket and space shuttle activities

Highlights include launching guided vehicles into the African Solar Eclipse, initiation of development of a Three-Stage Black Brant to explore the dayside polar cusp, large payload Aries Flights at White Sands Missile Range, and an active program with the Orion vehicle family using surplus motors. Sounding rocket philosophy and experience is being applied to the shuttle in a Get Away Special and Experiments of Opportunity Payloads Programs. In addition, an orbit selection and targeting software system to support shuttle pallet mounted experiments is under development.

Lane, J. H.↗