MISOLFA solar monitor for the ground PICARD program

TL;DR

MISOLFA is a new daytime turbulence monitor developed to improve ground-based solar diameter measurements by characterizing atmospheric turbulence effects, supporting the PICARD space mission's objectives.

Contribution

The paper introduces MISOLFA, a novel turbulence monitoring instrument designed specifically for the PICARD mission to enhance ground-based solar observations.

Findings

Characterized turbulence at Calern observatory using MISOLFA

Demonstrated the instrument's capability to measure spatial and temporal turbulence

Supported the calibration of ground-based solar diameter measurements

Abstract

Developed at the Observatoire de la C\^ote d'Azur (OCA) within the framework of the PICARD space mission (Thuillier et al., 2006) and with support from the french spatial agency (CNES), MISOLFA (Moniteur d'Images Solaires Franco-Alg\'erien) is a new generation of daytime turbulence monitor. Its objective is to measure both the spatial and temporal turbulence parameters in order to quantify their effects on the solar diameter measurements that will be made from ground using the qualification model of the SODISM (SOlar Diameter Imager and Surface Mapper) instrument onboard PICARD. The comparison of simultaneous images from ground and space should allow us, with the help of the solar monitor, to find the best procedure possible to measure solar diameter variations from ground on the long term. MISOLFA is now installed at the Calern facility of OCA and PICARD is scheduled to be launched in 2010. We present here the principles of the instrument and the first results obtained on the characteristics of the turbulence observed at Calern observatory using this monitor while waiting for the launch of the space mission.