Moon Mars Optical Reddening Lab - Atmospheric Scattering Simulator

Celestial Disk Comparator (Refraction & Extinction) Alt: 2.8°

Starbase Boca Chica Atmospheric Presets

Horizon Elevation Angle (Apparent) 2.8°

Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD at 500nm) 0.42

Angstrom Exponent (Particle Size α) 1.10 (Marine/Dust Mix)

Atmospheric Spectral Transmission & Chromaticity Airmass: 15.2 X

Airmass (AM)

15.21

Blue Ext. (450nm)

99.8%

Red Trans. (650nm)

41.2%

Vertical Squish

0.78x

Astrophysical Context (NASASpaceflight Starbase Observation): At low horizon angles (<4°), the atmospheric path length increases drastically (Kasten-Young airmass >12). Rayleigh scattering (λ⁻⁴) rapidly extinguishes 450nm blue photons ~8.4× faster than 650nm red photons. Combined with coastal marine aerosols, the lunar disk's color shifts precisely into Mars's oxidized iron reflectance signature.