Open AccessAn Observational Search for Cosmic Light
Author(s) -
Roach F. E.,
Smith L. L.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1968.tb05760.x
Subject(s) - observational study , cosmic cancer database , astronomy , astrophysics , physics , mathematics , statistics
Summary A total of 28 500 observations of the zenith sky made at three mid‐latitude stations is analysed for the purpose of extracting the diffuse light from the totality of extra‐galactic light sources. It is not possible to obtain a value for absolute brightness of this cosmic light but an estimate of the upper limit is given, namely the equivalent of 5 stars of visual magnitude 10 per square degree (26·0 mag. (vis)/square second). It is suggested that a definitive measurement should be possible from observations in the near infra‐red made from a spacecraft sufficiently far from the plane of the ecliptic to be effectively out of the zodiacal dust cloud.