Determination of variations of the solar radius from solar eclipse observationsThis paper describes the method to determine the solar radius and its variations from observations made during total solar eclipses. In particular, the procedure to correct the spherical moon predictions for the effects of lunar mountains and valleys on the width and location of the path of totality is addressed in detail. The errors affecting this technique are addressed, a summary of the results of its application to three solar eclipses are presented, and the implications of the results on the constancy of the solar constant are described.
Document ID
19810064408
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Sofia, S. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Planetary Atmospheres, Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Dunham, D. W. (Computer Sciences Corp. Silver Spring, MD, United States)
Fiala, A. D. (U.S. Naval Observatory Washington, DC, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1980
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Conference on The ancient sun: Fossil record in the earth, moon and meteorites