Daytime Sky Brightness Measurements and Comparison to Analytical Models

Vincent Vella, L3Harris Technologies; Jacob Brazeau, L3Harris Technologies

Keywords: Daytime, SNR, Link Budget, SWIR, RSO Tracking, RSO Custody, High Noise Signal Discrimination, Daytime Atmospheric Characterization, MODTRAN

Abstract:

The daytime sky brightness is presented in multiple bands over the full celestial sphere at multiple times in order to establish baseline nominal conditions. The system and approach for these measurements are summarized. The measurements are then considered against radiometric link budget estimates as well as compared against expected first principles spectral responses. The magnitude and frequency of scattering and aerosol impacts causing variances from benign low scattering profiles are compared against various common MODTRAN profiles with an investigation into the measurements correlation to the model’s outputs. The implications of these findings on daytime RSO detections are then summarized. 

Date of Conference: September 14-17, 2021

Track: Atmospherics/Space Weather

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