The NearSys LED Photometer Kits

Discovered by Forest Mims in 1973?, LEDs behave as inexpensive, spectrally sensitive photometers. The NearSys Photometer kits permit near space missions to measure the brightness of sunlight as a function of altitude in a number of colors. Using multiple IR LEDs lets a near space mission measure water vapor as a function of altitude. The LEDs can be swapped for a UV-B photodiode so that the changes in ozone can be measured. Adding polaroid film to the LEDs converts the unit into an affordable photopolarimeter.

The LED photometers are under test and kits will be released shortly. To make them more useful, they should be combined with the NearSys Sun Sensor.