High spectral resolution ground-based observations of Venus in the 450-1250 cm sup-1 region

The thermal emission of Venus was recorded during the winter of 1970-1971, and in 1973 using the 2.7m telescope at McDonald Observatory. The double beam Michelson interferometer installed at the Coude focus was used. The spectrum was recorded between 400/cm and 1,400/cm. For the 1970 observations, the spectral resolution was 0.25/cm and the linear spatial resolution was 3/4 of the disk of Venus. In 1973 the spectral resolution was 0.20/cm with a spatial resolution 1/3 of the planetary disk. In addition to Venus, the moon, the sky adjacent to each object, and the zenith sky were recorded to help eliminate the absorption and emission effects of the earth's atmosphere.