Prediction Of Infrared (IR) Celestial Source Counts

Jerry Krassner

doi:10.1117/12.931965

27 July 1981 Prediction Of Infrared (IR) Celestial Source Counts

Jerry Krassner

Proceedings Volume 0280, Infrared Astronomy: Scientific/Military Thrusts and Instrumentation; (1981) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.931965
Event: 1981 Technical Symposium East, 1981, Washington, D.C., United States

Abstract

One of the questions that must be investigated in the design of spaceborne IR telescope systems is that of the level of the background flux due to discrete celestial IR sources (stars, galaxies, etc.). This flux is a potential source of false targets and could decrease the efficiency of a system's data handling capability. This paper describes a technique for predicting 2.2 μm source counts based on an extrapolation of the Cal Tech Two Micron Sky Survey (IRC) using a model of galactic structure. These source counts can be used to estimate the celestial IR flux incident on a space-viewing sensor. For improved accuracy source count predictions should be based on a galactic model which includes, e.g., local spiral arm structure. The IRC is not complete to distances at which spiral arm structure becomes obvious. However, for some space systems now under consideration such galactic features should be considered. For this task as well as for an improved knowledge of stellar distributions in the galaxy deeper IR surveys would be very desirable. Appropriate surveys are possible using existing technology.

Citation Download Citation

Jerry Krassner "Prediction Of Infrared (IR) Celestial Source Counts", Proc. SPIE 0280, Infrared Astronomy: Scientific/Military Thrusts and Instrumentation, (27 July 1981); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.931965

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