Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!columbia!topaz!KFL From: KFL@MIT-MC.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Earth's radio brightness Message-ID: <3176@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> Date: Wed, 7-Aug-85 21:04:11 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.3176 Posted: Wed Aug 7 21:04:11 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 11-Aug-85 00:07:54 EDT Sender: daemon@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 18 From: Keith F. LynchThe Earth is much brighter in the microwave region of the spectrum than the Sun is. The Sun gives off small amounts of radio waves and microwaves because of its heat. Jupiter gives off very small amounts of radio waves for that reason. Jupiter's main radio emissions are in the 10 meter and the 0.1 meter bands, and are NOT thermal, but are caused either by giant lighning storms on the planet or, more likely, by ions from Io spiralling in Jupiter's magnetic field. Jupiter does NOT radiate hardly any microwaves. Earth is always brighter than the Sun in the microwave region due mainly to high power military radar. But if a large, highly directional antenna such as the one at Aricebo is used, the Earth is, in one direction only, on one frequency only, one of the brightest microwave sources in the whole galaxy, and can communicate with a similar station 1000 light years away. ...Keith