Observations of the diffuse near-IR sky emission with a balloon-borne infrared telescope (TRIP)

The diffuse sky emission in 7 spectral bands between 2 and 4.6 microns has been observed with a cooled balloonborne IR telescope (TRIP). The results, reported here, confirm state-of-the-art atmospheric models for the continuum emission at λ > 3μm and for the OH component at λ < 2.3μm. On the other hand, excess flux in the 2.3 to 2.5μmatmospheric window is found at a level of λIλ ' 1.5− 2 10−10 W cm−2 sr−1. Given itsmodulationwith the zenith angle, this signal can be attributed to residual atmospheric emission, possibly due to narrow saturated absorption lines. The sky brightness detected by TRIP in the atmospheric window is 1.5 magnitude fainter at balloon altitudes than the typical sky brightness at South Pole. However, in optimal atmospheric conditions, the sky brightness at South Pole can be only half a magnitude brighter.