What is the solar intensity at lunar poles?

victoriatangoman wrote:

> Just looking for a few facts and I'm hoping somebody will have them
> handy.
>
> I'm using 1400 watts/m2 at lunar equator, with the sun overhead at
> noon. This won't be the case at the poles.

No, its still 1400 watts/m^2

The EFFECTIVE intensity will usually be reduced as the collector's
angle varies relative to the Sun according to a sine law.

(When the collector is at 90 degrees, you don't get any
power, when at 0 degrees you get full power.)

The issues of proping up the collector are much lower on the
moon, due to the low gravity and lack of wind. Also, you probably
would be able to reorient them manually- the sun moves around
you on a 28+ day cycle.

> The sun will be closer to
> the horizon.

About on the horizon, and if you are in crater, below the
horizon.

> Does any one know what the solar intensity will be?
> Also, how high above the horizon would the sun be at the South Lunar
> Pole?

I don't happen to have the altitude figures for the south pole handy.
Anyone? I'm not quite sure what good this would do you, you would probably
want to be at a high point near the pole, rather that actually at the
pole to avoid being shadowed during the lunar month.

> Thanks for your help.

--
- Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...)

"Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding
technological civilization?"
- Gerard O'Neill