Accurate Determination of the Solar Photospheric Radius
arXiv:astro-ph/9803131 · doi:10.1086/311416
Abstract
The Solar Diameter Monitor measured the duration of solar meridian transits during the 6 years 1981 to 1987, spanning the declining half of solar cycle 21. We have combined these photoelectric measurements with models of the solar limb-darkening function, deriving a mean value for the solar near-equatorial radius of 695.508 +- .026 Mm. Annual averages of the radius are identical within the measurement error of +- .037 Mm.
6 pages, 2 figures Submitted to Astrophys. J. Lett., March 9 1998 Uses AASTeX Macro package aas2pp4