AURORA on MEGSAT 1: a photon counting observatory for the Earth UV night-sky background and Aurora emission

Year: 2001

Authors: Monfardini A., Trampus P., Stalio R., Mahne N., Battiston R., Menichelli M., Mazzinghi P.

Autors Affiliation: Astronomy Department, University of Trieste, Italy;
Center for Advanced Research in Space Optics, Padriciano 99, Area Science Park, 34012, Trieste, Italy;
I.N.F.N Sez. Perugia, Italy;
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy

Abstract: A low-mass, low-cost photon-counting scientific payload has been developed and launched on a commercial microsatellite in order to study the near-UV night-sky background emission with a telescope nicknamed \”Notte\” and the Aurora emission with \”Alba\”. AURORA, this is the name of the experiment, will determine, with the \”Notte\” channel, the overall night-side photon background in the 300-400 mn. spectral range, together with a particular 2 (+) N-2 line (lambda (c) = 337 nm). The \”Alba\” channel, on the other hand, will study the Aurora emissions in four different spectral bands FWHM = 8.4-9.6 nm) centered on: 367 nm (continuum evaluation), 391 nm (1 (-) N-2(+)), 535 nm (continuum evaluation), 560 nm (OI). The instrument has been launched on the 26 September, 2000 from the Baikonur cosmodrome on a modified SS18 Dnepr-1 \”Satan\” rocket. The satellite orbit is nearly circular (h(apogee) = 648 km, e = 0.0022), and the inclination of the orbital plane is 64.56 degrees. An overview of the techniques adopted is given in this paper. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal/Review: NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION A-ACCELERATORS SPECTROMETERS DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT

Volume: 469 (3)      Pages from: 316  to: 322

KeyWords: Aurora; Microsatellite; Photon-counting; UV background; Cosmic microwave background (CMB); Microsatellites; Photon counters, Bandwidth; Continuum mechanics; Cosmic ray detectors; Cost effectiveness; Electromagnetic wave emission; Photons; Radiation counters; Spectrum analysis; Ultraviolet radiation; Satellite observatories
DOI: 10.1016/S0168-9002(01)00776-8

Citations: 1
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