The quiet sun brightness temperature at 408 MHz

The flux of the radio quiet Sun and the brightness temperature at 408 MHz (73 cm) are derived from measurements with the E-W Nançay interferometer and the E-W arm of the Medicina North Cross. It is shown that the lowest envelopes, which defined the radio quiet Sun, correspond to transits of extended coronal holes across the disk of the Sun.     

The brightness distribution of the sun at 2.8cm wavelength

Maps of the Sun at 2.8 cm wavelength, observed with the 100-m telescope in Effelsberg, on 1972, October 31 and 1973, February 10, are discussed. The brightness distribution over the Sun is, with the exception of active regions, approximately constant and nearly sharp-edged. Regions of small enhancements in the radiation can be identified with zones of weak activity in the solar magnetograms. Optical filaments could also be seen in absorption at 2.8 cm wavelength, the optical depth being of the order of 0.2. Several active regions have been analysed with respect to their position relative to their optical counterparts and to their brightness temperature: The latter was found to reach almost 10⁶K in one case. No noticeable limb brightening could be observed; if any exists, it should be smaller than 5%. Likewise no noticeable elliptical deformation of the Sun's disk could be found. The geometrical thickness of the coronal layer, contributing to the undisturbed radiation at 2.8 cm was estimated to be a maximum of 4000 km.     

Observations of the 1.4mm brightness distribution of the sun

Observations of the 1.4 mm center to limb solar brightness distribution show that there is little, if any, limb brightening at this wavelength. Knowledge of the antenna radiation pattern is vital in interpreting the radio measurements.This work was supported by the U.S. Air Force under Contract No. F04701-70-C-0069.     

The 1-mm brightness temperature of titan

Titan has been observed with the 5-m Hale telescope at an effective wavelength of 1 mm. Adopting a value of 2700 km for the radius of Titan, we find a brightness temperature of 86±12°K at 1 mm. Comparing our results with previous measurements at longer wavelengths, we conclude that the satellite surface is the source of the 1-mm radiation. Since our measured brightness temperature is close to the equilibrium temperature of a blackbody at the distance of Saturn, we believe there is no significant greenhouse effect on Titan.     

Comments on the quiet Sun brightness distribution at 1.2 mm wavelength

A re-analysis of the brightness distribution of the quiet Sun at 1.2 mm wavelength is made. It is concluded that there is no evidence for uniform or limb-brightened distribution at this wave-length.     

The magnetic flux in the quiet sun network

The Ca ii K line emission from the quiet Sun network does not vary with the 11-year cycle (White and Livinston, 1981). We confirm this result from direct magnetic measurements. This effect is not simply explained by present empirical models of the evolution of surface magnetic fields.Now at Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, U.S.A.     

The quiet Sun brightness temperature at 127 MHz

A correction and analysis of routine total flux measurements made in Toru at 127 MHz allowed for the determination of the peak brightness temperature of the Sun (above 9 × 10⁵ K) in three periods grouped around the last minimum, and for estimation of the brightness temperature of the coronal holes: (7.3 ± 1.4) × 10⁵ K.     

Structure of magnetic fields on the quiet sun

To obtain quantitative temporal and spatial information on the network magnetic fields, we applied auto- and cross-correlation techniques to the Big Bear videomagnetogram (VMG) data. The average size of the network magnetic elements derived from the auto-correlation curve is about 5700 km. The distance between the primary and secondary peak in the auto-correlation curve is about 17000 km, which is half of the size of the supergranule as determined from the velocity map. The correlation time is about 10 to 20 hours. The diffusion constant derived from the cross-correlation curve is 150 km² s^-1. We also found that in the quiet regions the total magnetic flux in a window 3 × 4 changes very little in nearly 10 hours. That means the emergence and the disappearance of magnetic flux are in balance. The cancelling features and the emergence of ephemeral regions are the major sources for the loss and replenishment of magnetic flux on the quiet Sun.     

The sky brightness when the rising sun is in eclipse

Part of the “Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project” is the study of a historical record of “double dawn” and its astronomical interpretation. We used the light meter on ordinary cameras to determine the sky variation during normal sunrises and sunsets, set up a way of calculating the variation when the rising sun is in eclipse, and identified the range and intensity of the double dawn phenomenon. For this, we organized a mass participation of the observation of the 1997-03-09 eclipse in Xinjiang Province. The observations are in good agreement with our model calculation and prove that an eclipsed sunrise could indeed give rise to the phenomenon of “double dawn”     

The characteristic size and brightness of facular points in the quiet photosphere

Using two very high resolution, white-light plates of the solar granulation, we measure a characteristic size and intensity for facular points. The plates were obtained with the 50 cm refractor at Pic-du-Midi Observatory using a 60 Å bandpass filter center at 5750 Å. After adjustment for atmospheric and instrumental smearing, we find a characteristic size of 0.22 arc sec and a characteristic intensity of 1.3 to 1.5 times the mean continuum intensity.NAS/NRC Resident Research Associate, on leave from Pic du Midi Observatory, France.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract AST 78-17292 with the National Science Foundation.     

Two-dimensional high-resolution spectroscopy of quiet regions on the sun

In this communication we briefly review the content of Cephei pulsating stars in young open clusters. The actual metallicity differences between clusters are suggested to be detectable as variations of the location of these stars in the photometric diagrams. We make a quantitative estimate of these differences and comment on the connections with the existence and possible determination of a metallicity gradient in the galactic plane.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Planetary brightness temperature measurements at 1.4-mm wavelength

Precise relative measurements of the disk brightness temperatures of Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have been made at a mean wavelength of 1.4 mm. The rings of Saturn contribute significantly to the observed total emission. Other results include a better understanding of the properties of the NRAO 11-m antenna near its high frequency limit and of atmospheric degradation of observations in this wavelength range.     

Absolute brightness temperature measurements at 2.1-mm wavelength

Absolute measurements of the brightness temperatures of the Sun, new Moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, and of the flux density of DR21 at 2.1-mm wavelength are reported. Relative measurements at 3.5-mm wavelength are also presented which resolve the absolute calibration discrepancy between The University of Texas 16-ft radio telescope and the Aerospace Corporation 15-ft antenna. The use of the bright planets and DR21 as absolute calibration sources at millimeter wavelengths is discussed in the light of recent observations.     

The observation of 3.3-mm bursts and their correlation with soft X-ray bursts

Observations of 3.3-mm bursts show that in most cases these bursts have slower rise times and are longer lived than the impulsive centimeter bursts. There is a good temporal correlation between the 3.3-mm and soft X-ray bursts, indicating that these bursts have their origin in the same thermal source mechanism, although these emissions may not arise from the same electrons.This work was supported by the U.S. Air Force under Contract No. F04701-69-C-0066.     

Characteristic size and diffusion of quiet sun magnetic patterns

We have previously studied large-scale motions using high-resolution magnetograms taken from 1978 to 1990 with the NSO Vacuum Telescope on Kitt Peak. Latitudinal and longitudinal motions were determined by a two-dimensional crosscorrelation analysis of pairs of consecutive daily observations using small magnetic features as tracers. Here we examine the shape and amplitude of the crosscorrelation functions. We find a characteristic length scale as indicated by the FWHM of the crosscorrelation functions of 16.6 ± 0.2 Mm. The length scale is constant within ±45° latitude and decreases by about 5% at 52.5° latitude; i.e., the characteristic size is almost latitude independent. The characteristic scale is within 3% of the average value during most times of the solar cycle, but it increases during cycle maximum at latitudes where active regions are present. For the time period 1978–1981 (solar cycle maximum), the length scale increases up to 1.7 Mm or 10% at 30° latitude. In addition, we derive the average amplitude of the crosscorrelation functions, which reflects the diffusion of magnetic elements and their evolutionary changes (including formation and decay). We find an average value of 0.091 ± 0.003 for the crosscorrelation amplitude at a time lag of one day, which we interpret as being caused by the combined effect of the lifetime of magnetic features and a diffusion process. Assuming a lifetime of one day, we find a value of 120 km² s^–1 for the diffusion constant, while a lifetime of two days leads to 230 km² s^–1.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

The correspondence between x-ray bright points and evolving magnetic features in the quiet sun

Coronal bright points, first identified as X-ray Bright Points (XBPs), are compact, short-lived and associated with small-scale, opposite polarity magnetic flux features. Previous studies have yielded contradictory results suggesting that XBPs are either primarily a signature of emerging flux in the quiet Sun, or of the disappearance of pre-existing flux. With the goal of improving our understanding of the evolution of the quiet Sun magnetic field, we present results of a study of more recent data on XBPs and small-scale evolving magnetic structures. The coordinated data set consists of X-ray images obtained during rocket flights on 15 August and 11 December, 1987, full-disk magnetograms obtained at the National Solar Observatory - Kitt Peak, and time-lapse magnetograms of multiple fields obtained at Big Bear Solar Observatory. We find that XBPs were more frequently associated with pre-existing magnetic features of opposite polarity which appeared to be cancelling than with emerging or new flux regions. Most young, emerging regions were not associated with XBPs. However, some XBPs were associated with older ephemeral regions, some of which were cancelling with existing network or intranetwork poles. Nearly all of the XBPs corresponded to opposite polarity magnetic features which wereconverging towards each other; some of these had not yet begun cancelling. We suggest that most XBPs form when converging flow brings oppositely directed field lines together, leading to reconnection and heating of the newly-formed loops in the low corona.     

The distribution of interstellar extinction near the sun

Photometric data inuvbyß system from 3713 stars is used to map the distribution of colour excesses up to 500 parsec from the Sun, producing diagrams for a series of layers aligned with the galactic plane. Individual clouds are detected, with a mean diameter of 6 parsecs, while cloud complexes have a mean diameter of 100 pc. From the maps it seems that the interstellar medium near the Sun presents regions of non-negligible extinction, while the Sun itself is enbedded in a diffuse cloud, or slightly off its border. The large scatter in the distribution ofE(b-) is confirmed, with a mean extinction ofA _v=0 _. ^m 38 up to 500 pc.     

A comparison of 3.3-mm bursts and Hα emission during flares

Radio bursts observed at a wavelength of 3.3 mm are always associated with flares. The enhancement in the millimeter emission is strongly correlated with some optical event that is associated with the flare. Emissions in the bursts observed thus far, with the possible exception of those associated with proton flares, have not been large increases over quiescent readings and can be explained by a thermal mechanism.This work was supported by the U.S. Air Force under Contract No. F04695-67-C-0158.     

The bimodal spiral galaxy surface brightness distribution

We have assessed the significance of Tully and Verheijen's bimodal Ursa Major Cluster spiral galaxy near-infrared surface brightness distribution, focusing on whether this bimodality is simply an artefact of small number statistics. A Kolmogorov–Smirnov style of significance test shows that the total distribution is fairly represented by a single-peaked distribution, but that their isolated galaxy subsample (with no significant neighbours within a projected distance of ∼80 kpc) is bimodal at the 96 per cent level. We have also investigated the assumptions underlying the isolated galaxy surface brightness distribution, finding that the (often large) inclination corrections used in the construction of this distribution reduce the significance of the bimodality. We conclude that the Ursa Major Cluster data set is insufficient to establish the presence of a bimodal near-infrared surface brightness distribution: an independent sample of ∼100 isolated, low-inclination galaxies is required to establish bimodality at the 99 per cent level.     

Brightness temperatures of the quiet sun and new moon at the 6 mm wavelength

Absolute brightness temperatures and brightness temperature ratios of a quiet region near the center of the solar disk and the central region of the new moon were measured simultaneously at the 6 mm wavelength. The measured quiet sun/new moon brightness temperature ratios and reported central brightness temperatures of the new moon confirm the measured brightness temperature of the quiet sun at the 6 mm wavelength.Reported central brightness temperatures of the new moon are tabulated and graphed as a function of frequency and wavelength. The equation of a linear regression line for the reported measurements is given for estimating the brightness temperature of the new moon at any millimeter wavelength. Estimated brightness temperatures of the new moon and measured quiet sun/new moon ratios are used to estimate solar brightness temperatures at several millimeter wavelengths. The solar brightness temperatures, the regression line, and the Van de Hulst theoretical model are presented graphically as a function of frequency and wavelength. The regression line equation is given for estimating solar brightness temperatures at any wavelength in the 6 to 1 mm wavelength interval and is solved for the wavelength of the measured ratios.Reported solar brightness temperatures in the millimeter wavelength region are tabulated. The measured temperatures in the 6 to 1 mm wavelength interval and a linear regression line are presented graphically as a function of frequency and wavelength. The regression line equation is given and solved for the solar brightness temperatures at the 6 mm wavelength.This work supported by the U.S. Air Force under Contract No. F04701-69-C-0066.