Unveiling Illumination Variations During a Lunar Eclipse: Multi-Wavelength Spaceborne Observations of the January 21, 2019 Event
Space-based observations of the total lunar eclipse on 21 January 2019 were conducted using the geostationary Earth-orbiting satellite Gaofen-4 (GF-4). This study represents a pioneering effort to address the observational gap in full-disk lunar eclipse photometry from space. With its high resolutio...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Min Shu Tianyi Xu Wei Cai Shibo Wen Hengyue Jiao Yunzhao Wu |
| author_facet | Min Shu Tianyi Xu Wei Cai Shibo Wen Hengyue Jiao Yunzhao Wu |
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| description | Space-based observations of the total lunar eclipse on 21 January 2019 were conducted using the geostationary Earth-orbiting satellite Gaofen-4 (GF-4). This study represents a pioneering effort to address the observational gap in full-disk lunar eclipse photometry from space. With its high resolution and ability to capture the entire lunar disk, GF-4 enabled both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the variations in lunar brightness, as well as spectra and color changes, across two spatial dimensions, from the whole lunar disk to resolved regions. Our results indicate that before the totality phase of the lunar eclipse, the irradiance of the Moon diminishes to below approximately 0.19% of that of the uneclipsed Moon. Additionally, we observed an increase in lunar brightness at the initial entry into the penumbra. This phenomenon is attributed to the opposition effect, providing scientific evidence for this unexpected behavior. To investigate detailed spectral variations, specific calibration sites, including the Chang’E-3 landing site, MS-2 in Mare Serenitatis, and the Apollo 16 highlands, were analyzed. Notably, the red-to-blue ratio dropped below 1 near the umbra, contradicting the common perception that the Moon appears red during lunar eclipses. The red/blue ratio images reveal that as the Moon enters Earth’s umbra, it does not simply turn red; instead, a blue-banded ring appears at the boundary due to ozone absorption and the lunar surface composition. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of atmospheric effects on lunar eclipses and provide crucial reference information for the future modeling of lunar eclipse radiation, promoting the integration of remote sensing science with astronomy. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-56906aedf3cb4a48b863c2bb0e4fa9d22025-08-20T02:27:38ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-11-011622418110.3390/rs16224181Unveiling Illumination Variations During a Lunar Eclipse: Multi-Wavelength Spaceborne Observations of the January 21, 2019 EventMin Shu0Tianyi Xu1Wei Cai2Shibo Wen3Hengyue Jiao4Yunzhao Wu5Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210023, ChinaPurple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210023, ChinaPurple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210023, ChinaCollege of Geo-Exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, ChinaPurple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210023, ChinaPurple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210023, ChinaSpace-based observations of the total lunar eclipse on 21 January 2019 were conducted using the geostationary Earth-orbiting satellite Gaofen-4 (GF-4). This study represents a pioneering effort to address the observational gap in full-disk lunar eclipse photometry from space. With its high resolution and ability to capture the entire lunar disk, GF-4 enabled both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the variations in lunar brightness, as well as spectra and color changes, across two spatial dimensions, from the whole lunar disk to resolved regions. Our results indicate that before the totality phase of the lunar eclipse, the irradiance of the Moon diminishes to below approximately 0.19% of that of the uneclipsed Moon. Additionally, we observed an increase in lunar brightness at the initial entry into the penumbra. This phenomenon is attributed to the opposition effect, providing scientific evidence for this unexpected behavior. To investigate detailed spectral variations, specific calibration sites, including the Chang’E-3 landing site, MS-2 in Mare Serenitatis, and the Apollo 16 highlands, were analyzed. Notably, the red-to-blue ratio dropped below 1 near the umbra, contradicting the common perception that the Moon appears red during lunar eclipses. The red/blue ratio images reveal that as the Moon enters Earth’s umbra, it does not simply turn red; instead, a blue-banded ring appears at the boundary due to ozone absorption and the lunar surface composition. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of atmospheric effects on lunar eclipses and provide crucial reference information for the future modeling of lunar eclipse radiation, promoting the integration of remote sensing science with astronomy.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/22/4181Gaofen-4lunar eclipsephotometric measurement |
| spellingShingle | Min Shu Tianyi Xu Wei Cai Shibo Wen Hengyue Jiao Yunzhao Wu Unveiling Illumination Variations During a Lunar Eclipse: Multi-Wavelength Spaceborne Observations of the January 21, 2019 Event Remote Sensing Gaofen-4 lunar eclipse photometric measurement |
| title | Unveiling Illumination Variations During a Lunar Eclipse: Multi-Wavelength Spaceborne Observations of the January 21, 2019 Event |
| title_full | Unveiling Illumination Variations During a Lunar Eclipse: Multi-Wavelength Spaceborne Observations of the January 21, 2019 Event |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling Illumination Variations During a Lunar Eclipse: Multi-Wavelength Spaceborne Observations of the January 21, 2019 Event |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling Illumination Variations During a Lunar Eclipse: Multi-Wavelength Spaceborne Observations of the January 21, 2019 Event |
| title_short | Unveiling Illumination Variations During a Lunar Eclipse: Multi-Wavelength Spaceborne Observations of the January 21, 2019 Event |
| title_sort | unveiling illumination variations during a lunar eclipse multi wavelength spaceborne observations of the january 21 2019 event |
| topic | Gaofen-4 lunar eclipse photometric measurement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/22/4181 |
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