Papers
2
Total Citations
41
H-Index
2
About
David A. Glenar is a planetary scientist whose work bridges the gap between observational astronomy and the complex physics of light scattering in extraterrestrial environments. His primary research focuses on the Moon's exosphere and the behavior of lunar dust, where he has made significant contributions to understanding how sunlight interacts with irregular, non-spherical particles. In his highly cited 2011 paper, Glenar developed a taxonomy of scattering models to realistically simulate the optical properties of lunar dust, a critical step for interpreting remote sensing data from the Moon's tenuous atmosphere. This work, which has garnered 23 citations, provides a foundational framework for future missions. Expanding on this, his 2018 study on Earthshine as an illumination source at the Moon (18 citations) explored how reflected light from Earth can be used as a natural calibration tool for lunar observations, offering a novel approach to studying the Moon's surface and exosphere. Glenar's research is notable for its methodological rigor and direct applicability to planetary exploration, making him a key figure in advancing our understanding of light scattering in complex, dusty environments.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Earthshine as an illumination source at the Moon18 citations · 2018