Team Indus Lunar Mockup Albedo Test

Vinayak Vadlamani, Team Indus

1. Test Objective
To achieve the requisite optical similarity in terms of albedo and color temperature,
an albedo test was performed by Team Indus for the Landing Systems Terrestrial
Milestone Prize accomplishment round on 11th and 12th October 2014. The output of
this test was to determine the surface albedo and color correlated temperature
under representative illumination conditions as would be experienced during the
open loop test.

2. Test Principle & Setup

Albedo is defined as the ratio of the light reflected off any surface versus the
ambient light incident on it. Albedo measurement was performed using two different
methods.
1. Image histogram data using commercial DSLR camera
2. Illuminance measurement using digital lux meter

Model
Resolution
Sensor Specification
ISO Range
Lens Focus Range

Table 4.1: Camera Specifications

Canon EOS 1200D
18 MP
CMOS, 22.3 mm x 14.9 mm
100 - 6400
18-35 mm

Model
Range(LUX)
Resolution(LUX)
Calibration

Table 4.2: Lux Meter Specifications

LX-101A
0-2000,2000-20000,20000-50000
1, 10, 100
Zero Offset Button

3. Test Procedure
3.1.

Histogram Method

The histogram method is based on measuring the relative albedo of the

surface with respect to a reference albedo of an A4 sheet (0.6 as per
Reference 1). The mean brightness is calculated from the histogram
generated using Image J image processing tool, an open source software. The
ambient mean brightness is hence measured by dividing by the relative
albedo. The absolute albedo is hence measured as a percentage of the mean
brightness of the board to the ambient.

MB ambient

MBreference
Albedo relative

Albedoabsolute
3.2.

MBunknown
MBambient

Lux Meter Method

In this method, first the ambient luminance is measured using the lux meter
by keeping the sensor on the surface. Next the reflected luminance is
measured from a given height above the surface. The albedo is then
calculated as the ratio of the first measurement to the first measurement.
The error of measurement using lux meter is assumed to be 10% of the
measured value.

Albedoabsolute

Lu min ancereflected
Lu min anceambient

4. Test Results
4.1.

Mean Albedo of Surface

Table 1: Surface Albedo Measurement using Histogram (Mean Brightness)
A4 Mean
Board
Ambient(
Absolute
Image (Lux)
Mean(Lux)
Lux)
Albedo(Lux)
0358
189.69
117.87
316.15
0.372829353
332.31666
0359
199.39
138.66
67
0.41725262
321.31666
0360
192.79
126.62
67
0.394066082
318.88333
0361
191.33
124.38
33
0.390048607
309.38333
0362
185.63
126.216
33
0.40795992
308.81666
0363
185.29
124.72
67
0.403864213
0364
201.48
144.22
335.8
0.429481834
0.402214662
Table 2: Surface Albedo Measurement using Lux Meter
Test
Case

Ambient
(Lux)

Illumination
Reflected at 1 m
(Lux)

Case 1

580

80

Case 2

1490

100

Albedo
0.13793103
4
0.06711409
4

4.2.

Coat
Natural
Khakhi
Grey
White

Case 3

410

70

Case 4

2090

155

Case 5

43

13

0.17073170
7
0.07416267
9
0.30232558
1
0.15045301
9

Albedo Measurement of Different Coats

Table 3: Albedo Measurement using Histogram for Different Coats

A4 Mean
Board
Absolute
(Lux)
Mean(Lux)
Ambient(Lux)
Albedo(Lux)
192.228571
4
93.227
320.3809524
0.290987961
192.651666
7
85.32
321.0861111
0.26572311
191.304
167.03
318.84
0.523867771
191.191714
3
202.9
318.6528571
0.636743075
Table 4: Albedo Measurement using Lux Meter for Different Coats

Coat
Natural
Khakhi
Grey
White

Illumination
Ambient
Reflected at 10
(Lux)
cm (Lux)
1368
212
1368
360
1368
582
1368
780

Albedo
0.155
0.263
0.425
0.57

5. Conclusion & Recommendation

The results for mean albedo using histogram and lux meter show very
different results, varying from 0.39 to 0.43 indicating a mean albedo of 0.4,
while the lux meter measurements indicate a mean albedo of 0.15. The
histogram method which is an indirect method of measuring albedo is
generally considered to verify results from lux meter measurements which
are considered more credible.
The lunar surface albedo measurements as per the Apollo missions were in
the 0.08-0.15 range, while according to a recent study from data logged by
the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA), the mean normal albedo is 0.3
where typical highlands exist, while low albedo regions occur between the 0o

and 15o latitudes due to deposits of lunar mare basalts [Journal of

Geophysical Research: Planets].
Hence, the test recommends that the natural surface of the mockup provides
0.15 based on lux meter readings, be utilized for the optical test.

6. References
[1] Gilchrist, Glen, A simple method to determine surface albedo using
digital photography, 2010.
[2] Lucey et. al, The global albedo of the Moon at 1064 nm from LOLA,
Journal of Geosphysical Research: Planets, AGU Publications, July 2014.
[3] Smith, Joe. Calculating Color Temperature and Illuminance using the
TAOS TCS3414CS Digital Color Sensor, Intelligent Opto Sensor Designers
Notebook, Rev C, TAOS, February 2009.