Steerable lidar studies of mesospheric sodium layer structure.

In May and June 1981, a 48 inch telescope located at the Goddard Space Flight Center Optical Test Site was used in conjuction with components of the University of Illinois sodium layer. The high quality optics allow a small receiver field of view which reduces the background sky illumination noise counts. The computer controlled telescope had the laser head mounted on it to ensure the laser beam tracking the telescope movements accurately. Spatial profiles of photocount data were collected, analysed and discussed. (P.J.B.)