Planets · Comets and asteroids · Physics
Albedo
Say it: al-BEE-doh IPA: /ælˈbiːdoʊ/ noun
Albedo: A measure of how much incoming radiation a surface or body reflects.
A bright icy surface generally reflects more sunlight than a dark rocky one. Albedo describes that reflectiveness; it does not tell you how much light the object produces itself.
- Example
- Fresh ice increased the surface's albedo, so more sunlight was reflected away.
- Why astronomers use it
- Reflectiveness affects surface temperature and how bright a world appears.
- Tiny cosmic connection
- Albedo depends on the wavelength range and the convention being used; compare like-for-like values.
Observatory Planets Comets and asteroids Physics
Where to check it
Written for Cool Moon Facts in its own words; the sources cover the same idea in more depth.