EOS Calibration Program

From 1995 to 1998, the USGS and the Northern Arizona University Department of Physics and Astronomy constructed an observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona dedicated to making long-term radiometric measurements of the Moon. The purpose of this on-going program with respect to EOS calibration is to utilize the radiometric stability of the lunar surface to provide long-term, on-orbit calibration and cross-calibration of EOS and non-EOS sensors flown on similar and different platforms. Currently, accurate measurements of the radiance and irradiance of the Moon are made at a number of wavelengths in the 348 to 2385 nm wavelength region using two imaging telescopic systems. The observatory measurements are used to produce exoatmospheric radiance images of the Moon which can be compared with orbiting spacecraft lunar observations. The lunar radiometric data is being archived in the GSFC Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

Hugh H. Kieffer
Celestial Reasonings
2256 Christmas Tree Lane
Carson City, Nevada 89703
Phone 775-882-3787
hkieffer@charter.net

http://wwwflag.wr.usgs.gov/USGSFlag/Space/LunarTel/

H.H. Kieffer and R.L. Wildey, "Absolute Calibration of Landsat Instruments Using the Moon," Photogramme Engineering Remote Sensing, 51, pp. 1391-1393 (1985)

H.H. Kieffer and R.L. Wildey, "Spectrophotometry of the Moon for calibration of space-borne imaging instruments", Proc. Lunar and Plan Sci. Conf. number 23, Abstracts, 687-688 (1992)

R.L. Wildey and H.H. Kieffer, "A new facility for absolute photometric imaging of the Moon", Bull. American Astronomical Society25, 1089 (1993)

H. Kieffer and R. Wildey, "Use of the Moon for calibration", CEOS CAL/VAL newsletter 4 (1994).

A. Ono, F. Sakuma, K. Arai, Y. Yamguchi, H. Fujisada, P. N. Slater, K. J. Thome, F. D. Palluconi and H.H. Kieffer, "Preflight and In-Flight Calibration Plan for ASTER," Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, Volume 13, No. 2, pp.321-335, (1996)

H.H. Kieffer and Robert L. Wildey, "Establishing the Moon as a Spectral Radiance Standard," Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 13, pp.360-375 (1996)

H.H. Kieffer, "Photometric Stability of the Lunar Surface," Icarus, 130, pp. 323-327, (1997)

H.H. Kieffer and J. A. Anderson, "Use of the Moon for Spacecraft Calibration over 350-2500 nm," Proceedings of the International Society for Optical Engineering, Volume 3438, pp. 325-335, (1998)

I. Grant, H.H. Kieffer, and J. M. Anderson, "Lunar Calibration of Geostatonary Visible-Band Images," Proceedings of the International Society for Optical Engineering, 3438, pp. 337-347, (1998)

M.S. Maxwell and H.H. Kieffer, "Calibrating the GOES Imager Visible Channel Using the Moon as an Irradiance Source," Proceedings of the International Society for Optical Engineering, 3439, pp. 136-144 (1998)

H.H. Kieffer, J. M. Anderson, and K. J. Becker, "Radiometric Calibration of Spacecraft Using Small Lunar Images," Proceedings of the International Society for Optical Engineering, 3870, pp. 193-205, (1999)

J.M. Anderson, K.J. Becker, H.H. Kieffer, and D.N. Dodd, "Real-Time Control of the Robotic Lunar Observatory Telescope," Journal of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 3, pp. 737-749 (1999)

H.H. Kieffer, J.M. Anderson, and K.J. Becker, "Radiometric Calibration of Spacecraft using Small Lunar Images", Proc. SPIE 3870, 193-205 (1999)

J.M. Anderson and H.H. Kieffer, "Photometric Imaging of the Moon from the Robotic Lunar Observatory", in Workshop on New Views of the Moon II: Understanding the Moon Through the Integration of Diverse Datasets, 2-24, Sep. 1999

J.M. Anderson, K.J. Becker, H.H. Kieffer, and D.N. Dodd, "Real-Time Control of the Robotic Lunar Observatory Telescope", Pub. Astronomical Soc. Pacific 111, 737-749 (1999)

J.M. Anderson, H. Kieffer, and K. Becker, "Modeling the brightness of the Moon over 350-2500 nm for spacecraft calibrations", Proc. SPIE 4169, 248-259 (2000)

T.C. Stone, H.H. Kieffer and J. M. Anderson, "Status of Use of Lunar Irradiance for On-orbit Calibration," Proceedings of the International Society for Optical Engineering, 4483, (2001)

H.H. Kieffer, P. Jarecke and J. Pearlman, "Initial Lunar Calibration Observations by the EO-1 Hyperion Imaging Spectrometer," Proceedings of the International Society for Optical Engineering, 4480, (2001)

T.C. Stone and H.H. Kieffer, "Absolute Irradiance of the Moon for On-orbit Calibration", Proc. SPIE 4814, 211-221 (2002)

T.C. Stone, H.H. Kieffer, and J.M. Anderson, "Status of Use of Lunar Irradiance for On-orbit Calibration", Proc. SPIE 4483, 165-175 (2002)

T. C. Stone, H. H. Kieffer, and K. J. Becker, "Modeling the Radiance of the Moon for On-orbit Calibration", Proc. SPIE 5151, 463-470 (2003)

H.H. Kieffer, T.C. Stone, R.A. Barnes, S.C. Bender, R.E. Eplee, J.A. Mendenhall and L. Ong, "On-orbit Radiometric Calibration Over Time and Between Spacecraft Using the Moon", Proc. SPIE 4881, 287-298 (2003)

R. A. Barnes, R. E. Eplee Jr., F. S. Patt, H. H. Kieffer, T. C. Stone, G. Meister, and C. R. McClain, "Comparison of SeaWiFS measurements of the Moon with the U.S. Geological Survey Lunar Model", Appl. Optics 43, 5838-5854 (2004)

T.C. Stone and H.H. Kieffer, "Assessment of Uncertainty in ROLO Lunar Irradiance for On-orbit Calibration", Proc. SPIE 5542, 300-310 (2004)

Hugh H. Kieffer and Thomas C. Stone, "The Spectral Irradiance of the Moon", The Astronomical Journal 129, 2887-2901 (2005)

T.C. Stone, H.H. Kieffer, and I.F. Grant, "Potential for Calibration of Geostationary Meteorological Satellite Imagers using the Moon", Proc. SPIE 5882 (2005)

T. C. Stone and H. H. Kieffer, "Use of the Moon to support on-orbit sensor calibration for climate change measurements," Proc. SPIE 6296 (2006)