abstract:The beta angle (\boldsymbol{\beta}) is a measurement that is used most notably in spaceflight. The beta angle determines the percentage of time an object such as a spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) spends in direct sunlight, absorbing solar energy.
It is the season for viewingPolarMesosphericClouds, and with our highbeta-anglewe were able tocapturethis thin layer of noctilucentclouds at sunset (6-25-2010).