Short-range demonstrations of monocular passive ranging using O2 (X3Σg- → b1Σg+) absorption spectra.

The depth of absorption bands in observed spectra of distant, bright sources can be used to estimate range to the source. Experimental results are presented based on observations of the O2 X(v" = 0) → b(v' = 0) absorption band centered around 762 nm and the O2 X(v" = 0) → b(v' = 1) band around 689 nm. Range is estimated by comparing observed values of band-average absorption against predicted curves derived from either historical data or model predictions.