Visibility: Detection and Recording of Objects against a Sky Background

The term “visibility” is used in reference to detection and optical-photographic recording of objects of small apparent angular size viewed through the atmosphere and against a day- or night-sky background. The factors influencing such detection and recording are discussed, including the relative luminance of the object by reflected sunlight or by artificial illumination, the attenuation by the intervening atmosphere, the luminance of the sky background due to scattered light, and the sensitivity and recording capabilities of the eye. Other influencing factors include photographic emulsions, other optical detectors and the optical imaging system. This paper undertakes to demonstrate that detection and recording are dependent upon the relative contrast between the object and the sky background and are directly comparable to the astronomical problem of photographing stars against a day- or night-sky background.

Print ISSN

0361-4573

Published

1958-04

Content type

Information

DOI

10.5594/J11142