Abstract

From known values of twilight sky brightness, atmospheric transmission, and eye sensitivity, the visibility of planets and stars of magnitudes −2.5 to +4.5 is calculated for the twilight period. The results of the calculations are given in charts which can be applied to various altitudes of the observer and various conditions of observation. The twilight belt is about 1100 sea miles in width, from the sunset or sunrise meridian to full night. The charts show that under good conditions in the first 200 miles of the belt the brighter planets and Sirius become visible, in the next 200 miles first magnitude stars appear, and beyond 500 miles practically all navigational stars can be seen.

© 1953 Optical Society of America

The Visibility of Stars in the Daylight Sky

R. Tousey and E. O. Hulburt
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 38(10) 886-896 (1948)

Visibility of Stars at High Altitude in Daylight

M. J. Koomen
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 49(6) 626-629 (1959)

Visibility of stars, halos, and rainbows during solar eclipses

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Explanation of the Brightness and Color of the Sky, Particularly the Twilight Sky

E. O. Hulburt
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 43(2) 113-118 (1953)

Celestial polarization patterns during twilight

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