Far infrared nightglow emission from atomic oxygen

Abstract

We have observed nightglow emission in a spectral band from 50 μ to 125 μ by using a rocket-borne liquid helium-cooled telescope. The observed zenith intensity as a function of altitude is consistent with the assumption that the emission is due to the ³P1 - ³P2 fine structure transition of O I at 63 μ. At 120 km, the zenith intensity is 1.7 megarayleighs or 5.5 × 10−2 erg sec−1 cm−2 (column), and the derived value for the atomic oxygen density is 4 × 1010 cm−3.