Abstract
The mean absolute brightness temperature of the diffuse radio background was measured as a function of frequency in a continuous band between 100 and 200 MHz over an effective solid angle of π sr at high Galactic latitude. A spectral brightness temperature index of β = 2.5 0.1 (αS = 0.5) was derived from the observations, where the error limits are 3σ and include estimates of the instrumental systematics. Zenith drift scans with central declination δ = -26.5° and spanning right ascensions 0 < α < 10 h yielded little variation in the mean spectral index. The mean absolute brightness temperature at ν = 150 MHz was found to reach a minimum of T = 237 10 K at α = 2.5 h. Combining these measurements with those of Haslam et al. yields a spectral index of β = 2.52 0.04 between 150 < ν < 408 MHz.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 641-648 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Astronomical Journal |
Volume | 136 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Galaxy: general
- Radio continuum: general
- Techniques: spectroscopic
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science