Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 1982
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982icar...52..516d&link_type=abstract
Icarus, vol. 52, Dec. 1982, p. 516-525. Research supported by the Observatoire de Paris and Institut National d'Astronomie et d
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
2
Astronomical Photometry, Brightness Distribution, Saturn Rings, Astronomical Models, Grazing Incidence, Infrared Astronomy
Scientific paper
From the authors' telescopic observations of Saturn's rings in 1966, 1979, and 1980, the luminance of the unlit face at λ = 0.58 μm is derived as a function of the height Barcmin of the Sun above the lit face. A maximum is reached at Barcmin = 1.9° and a decrease is observed for larger values of Barcmin. Ring B is 1.8 times less bright than ring A and Cassini division. The unlit/lit luminances ratio for the two rings merged together is 8% at Barcmin = 1.0° and 3% at Barcmin = 2.8°. The larger value at more grazing incidence is related to the photometric "opposition effect" which reflects more of the incident light backward into the ring plane when the height of the Sun is small; the light so reflected is again reflected and scattered and a certain flux reaches the unlit face to escape toward the observer. The unlit face luminances for blue and for yellow light indicate a contribution by micron size particles. The Saturn globe produces a ring illumination which, observed from the Earth, amounts to 1.8×10-3 of the disk center reflectance.
Brunier Serge
Dollfus Audouin
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