NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Absolute brightness temperature measurements at 3.5-mm wavelengthCareful observations have been made at 86.1 GHz to derive the absolute brightness temperatures of the sun (7914 + or - 192 K), Venus (357.5 + or - 13.1 K), Jupiter (179.4 + or - 4.7 K), and Saturn (153.4 + or - 4.8 K) with a standard error of about three percent. This is a significant improvement in accuracy over previous results at millimeter wavelengths. A stable transmitter and novel superheterodyne receiver were constructed and used to determine the effective collecting area of the Millimeter Wave Observatory (MWO) 4.9-m antenna relative to a previously calibrated standard gain horn. The thermal scale was set by calibrating the radiometer with carefully constructed and tested hot and cold loads. The brightness temperatures may be used to establish an absolute calibration scale and to determine the antenna aperture and beam efficiencies of other radio telescopes at 3.5-mm wavelength.
Document ID
19800055004
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ulich, B. L.
(National Radio Astronomy Observatory Tucson, AZ, United States)
Rhodes, P. J.
(National Radio Astronomy Observatory Tucson, Ariz., United States)
Davis, J. H.
(Millimeter Wave Observatory Austin, Tex., United States)
Hollis, J. M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation
Volume: AP-28
Subject Category
Astronomy
Accession Number
80A39174
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available