| Issue |
A&A
Volume 600, April 2017
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Article Number | A21 | |
| Number of page(s) | 13 | |
| Section | Astronomical instrumentation | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201628234 | |
| Published online | 22 March 2017 | |
SOLAR/SOLSPEC mission on ISS: In-flight performance for SSI measurements in the UV⋆
1 Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, 3 Ringlaan, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
e-mail: david.bolsee@aeronomie.be
2 LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, CNRS, 78280 Guyancourt, France
3 Belgian User Support and Operations Centre (B. USOC), 1180 Brussels, Belgium
4 Space Applications Services, 1932 Zaventem, Belgium
Received: 2 February 2016
Accepted: 24 November 2016
Context. The SOLar SPECtrum (SOLSPEC) experiment is part of the Solar Monitoring Observatory (SOLAR) payload, and has been externally mounted on the Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS) since 2008. SOLAR/SOLSPEC combines three absolutely calibrated double monochromators with concave gratings for measuring the solar spectral irradiance (SSI) from 166 nm to 3088 nm. This physical quantity is a key input for studies of climatology, planetary atmospheres, and solar physics.
Aims. A general description of the instrument is given, including in-flight operations and performance of the ultraviolet (UV) channel from 175 nm to 340 nm.
Methods. We developed a range of processing and correction methods, which are described in detail. For example, methods for correcting thermal behavior effects, instrument linearity, and especially the accuracy of the wavelength and absolute radiometric scales have been validated by modeling the standard uncertainties.
Results. The deliverable is a quiet Sun UV reference solar spectrum as measured by SOLAR/SOLSPEC during the minimum of solar activity prior to cycle 24. Comparisons with other instruments measuring SSI are also presented.
Key words: Sun: general / Sun: UV radiation / instrumentation: detectors / techniques: spectroscopic / space vehicles: instruments
The quiet Sun UV spectrum (FITS file) is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/600/A21
© ESO, 2017
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