Numerical Solutions of the Radiosity's Equation for Low Reflectivity and Emissivity on Planet Mars

Abstract

In this paper, the Galerkin method is used to numerically solve the exterior boundary value problem for the Radiosity equation for a spherical shape, specifically the Spherical Rhombus. The Radiosity equation is a mathematical model for the brightness of a collection of one or more surfaces when their reflectivity and emissivity are given. On planet Mars the surface emissivity is closely related to its surface temperature. The Radiosity of a surface is the rate at which the energy leaves that surface; it includes the energy emitted by a surface as well as the energy reflected from other surfaces.