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 Chapter III

OPTICAL STUDIES RELATED TO THE LUNAR RESEARCH FLIGHTS

Optical studies undertaken in this analysis of lunar research flight cover the following three areas: (a) various observational parameters governing the visibility of markers associated with apparatus on its way to the moon, in the vicinity of the moon or on the surface of the moon; (b) stellar spectroscopy and high speed spectroscopy of the lunar blast using available astronomical and high speed photographic equipment and (c} measurements on the thermal conductivity of the lunar surface using infrared emission measurements.

Visibility data has been compiled which would permit the calculation of required target intensity in order that it be visible against a background of known luminance. However, since the moon is not of uniform luminance, the results are not rigorous. Ranging from unresolvable points to large irregular areas and from bright spots to deep shadows, arranged in most irregular fashion, the moon represents a difficult background in which to search for a small areca. Therefore, target intensities must be substantially greater than indicated by calculations assuming uniform background. With these considerations in mind, a critical evaluation of various types of markers is presented.

Spectroscopy of the lunar blast area would yield useful information on the composition of material on the moon's surface. Detailed considerations 123