Modelling the diffuse ultraviolet radiation observed by Dynamics Explorer 1

Abstract

The Dynamics Explorer spacecraft, DE-1, has undertaken two sky surveys in the far-ultraviolet regime, covering a wide variety of Galactic latitudes. We have used a single scattering dust model to probe into the optical constants and the distance of the interstellar dust clouds. We find that, in agreement with most other observations, the dust grains are strongly forward scattering with a relatively high albedo and, in addition, that the scattering is from dust sheets within 100 pc of the Sun.