Observations of Lunar Luminescence at Visual Wavelengths

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Abstract
Photoelectric observations to detect luminescence of lunar surface features have been made in the wavelengths of H α , the sodium D-lines, and a group of Fe I lines near λ 5450, the latter measurements being concurrent with a programme of observations of these lines in late type stellar spectra. Near λ 5450, a variable luminescence reaching as much as 30 per cent of continuum was observed, but in the other two regions no luminescence greater than 2 per cent of the solar continuum could be detected. Observations of sunlight integrated by diffusion from a plate coated with magnesium oxide gave intensities that in H α and the D-lines were not significantly different from those of the Moon. This supports the idea that time-independent radiation from the sun does not in general induce lunar luminescence in these regions of the spectrum and that any luminescence observed in them should be related to solar activity.

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