On the albedo of the interplanetary dust

Abstract

The zodiacal light brightness and measured spatial density of the interplanetary dust lead to a mean geometric albedo of 0.24 for the dust particles near 1 AU; whereas the composition of collected micrometeroids suggests a geometric albedo ≲0.1. The data do not support the very low albedo (≲0.01) proposed by A. F. Cook [Icarus 33 (1978), 349–360]. The evidence is against a change in the mean particle albedo between 0.1 and 2 AU. Beyond 2 AU the data are unclear and a change in albedo is not ruled out. © 1980, All rights reserved.