EPOXI Earth Observations: Raw Infrared Spectra from 2008

Raw 1.05- to 4.8-micron spectra of Earth were acquired by the High Resolution Infrared Spectrometer (HRII) during the EPOCh phase of the EPOXI mission. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration collected the data during three 24-hour observing periods in March, May, and June 2008 to characterize Earth as an analog for extrasolar planets. Spectra were acquired twice per hour, and a future version is planned to include additional observations.

Use Cases

• Modeling Earth's spectral signature as an exoplanet analog based on the infrared spectra.
• Analyzing temporal changes in Earth's atmosphere based on spectra taken twice per hour over 24-hour periods.
• Studying the effect of lunar transit on planetary observations based on the May 2008 observing period.
• Calibrating remote sensing instruments for planetary observation based on the high-resolution infrared data.

Strengths

• Data was collected during three distinct 24-hour observing periods in 2008.
• Spectra cover a specific wavelength range from 1.05 to 4.8 microns.
• Observations were designed for a specific scientific purpose: characterizing Earth as an exoplanet analog.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The dataset is labeled as version 1.0, with future data planned but not yet included.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Acquired by the High Resolution Infrared Spectrometer (HRII) on the EPOXI spacecraft.

Time Range

Observations from 18-19 March, 28-29 May, and 4-5 June 2008.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 13:48:23.415867; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Earth, as observed from space.