normal albedo

astronomy

Also known as: normal reflectance

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July 1, 2026

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In astronomy, albedo refers to the fraction of light a celestial body reflects. It's a measure of reflectivity, with a higher albedo indicating more reflection and less absorption of light. For example, fresh snow has a high albedo, reflecting most sunlight, while dark asphalt has a low albedo, absorbing more heat.12

Normal albedo specifically measures brightness when illuminated and observed vertically. This is crucial for determining the surface composition of objects like asteroids and satellites, as their apparent brightness depends on their albedo, diameter, and distance. Changes in Earth's global albedo, such as the loss of Arctic sea ice, can impact global warming by increasing heat absorption.1

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albedo
…differentiated into two general types: normal albedo and Bond albedo. The former, also called normal reflectance, is a measure of a surface’s relative brightness when illuminated and observed vertically. The normal albedo of snow, for example, is nearly 1.0, whereas that of charcoal is about 0.04. Investigators frequently rely on…
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…differentiated into two general types: normal albedo and Bond albedo. The former, also called normal reflectance, is a measure of a surface’s relative brightness when illuminated and observed vertically. The normal albedo of snow, for example, is nearly 1.0, whereas that of charcoal is about 0.04. Investigators frequently rely on…
Read More