Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Geocoronal H-A [Alpha] Intensity Measurements Using The Wisconsin H-A [Alpha] Mapper Fabry-Perot Facility, S. Nossal, F. L. Roesler, J. Bishop, R. J. Reynolds, M. Haffner, S. Tufte, J. Percival, E. J. Mierkiewicz

Physical Sciences - Daytona Beach

"The Wisconsin H-a [alpha] Mapper (WHAM), a remotely operable, semi-automated Fabry-Perot located at Kitt Peak Observatory, has been making an all-sky survey of interstellar hydrogen Balmer a [alpha] (H-a [alpha]) emissions since 1997. Using the annular summing spectroscopy technique, WHAM has acquired ~[approx.] 37,000 spectra to date, spanning almost 100 nights of observations. Since all of the galactic emission spectral data contain the terrestrial H-a [alpha] (6562.7 Å) emission line, these measurements constitute a rich source of geocoronal data for investigating natural variability in the upper atmosphere. The WHAM observations also serve as a benchmark for comparison with future …