Topband: Full Moon, Oct 21-Questions

[bobnm7m@cnw.com (Robert Brown)]

Don,

Energetic, UV photons, are required for photo-ionization of the
atmospheric constituents that go to make up the ionosphere.  The table
below gives the energies and UV thresholds:  

                 N2     < 1270 A       >  9.76 eV
                 O2     < 1026 A       > 12.08 eV
                 NO     < 1340 A       >  9.25 eV        
                  O     <  911 A       > 13.61 eV
where 1 Angstrom (A) is 1E-08 cm.

The visible light that we see in the full moon does not contribute to
photon-ionization and it is doubtful that UV is reflected with great
enough efficiency to be effective.  

But a full moon seems to stir the hearts of DXers on 160 meters. 

73,

Bob, NM7M