Radiometry for Nighttime Sub-Cloud Imaging of Venus' Surface in the Near-InfraRed Spectrum

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that radiometry does not limit near-infrared sub-cloud imaging of Venus's surface at night, confirming that modest cameras can achieve high-resolution imaging through detailed radiometric modeling.

Contribution

The paper provides a radiometric analysis confirming the feasibility of high-resolution nighttime surface imaging of Venus using modest subcloud cameras.

Findings

Radiometry does not limit near-IR sub-cloud imaging.

Subcloud cameras can achieve high-resolution surface imaging.

Modeling confirms the effectiveness of modest imaging setups.

Abstract

Does radiometry (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio) limit the performance of near-IR subcloud imaging of our sister planet's surface at night? It does not. We compute subcloud radiometry using above-cloud observations, an assumed ground temperature, sub-cloud absorption and emission modeling, and Rayleigh scattering simulations. We thus confirm both archival and recent studies that deployment of a modest subcloud camera does enable high-resolution surface imaging.