Night illumination in the near- and short-wave infrared spectral bands and the potential for silicon and indium-gallium-arsenide imagers to perform night targeting

On a moonless night, the primary source of natural illumination in the near infrared and short-wave infrared spectral bands is airglow. We use data gathered by astronomers and atmospheric scientists to estimate the magnitude and variability of airglow ground illumination. Based on that foundation, we analyze the target acquisition performance of imagers that use silicon and indium-gallium-arsenide focal plane arrays.