New Horizons Cosmic Optical Background Observations Overview

Data Abstract
=============
  The extragalactic background light (EBL) is the sum of the light emitted
  by sources beyond the Milky Way throughout the history of the universe.
  While the EBL is present at all wavelengths, at optical wavelengths it is
  especially sensitive to the light from stars and galaxies and is referred
  to as the cosmic optical background (COB). This LORRI data set was used to
  measure the COB. Structured and diffuse astrophysical foregrounds including
  bright stars, the integrated starlight from faint unresolved sources, and
  diffuse galactic light were characterized and removed. Dark current and
  other instrument systematics were also accounted for, including various
  sources of scattered light. These calibrated and masked LORRI images were
  processed from the calibrated LORRI data products on PDS and provide a
  starting point for this COB measurement, from which other foregrounds must
  be subtracted. The logical masks allow for exclusion of resolved stars,
  optical ghosts, hot pixels, cosmic rays, and any other defects. The images
  are calibrated to nW m-2 sr-1 and have been corrected for detector
  systematics with a consistent zero-point.
  
Dataset Overview
================
  This dataset includes 529 processed LORRI exposures comprising 19 science
  fields. Images from LORRI datasets were cut from this analysis based on
  exposure time, astrometric registration, exposures containing Pluto or its
  moons, dark exposures taken before the LORRI aperture cover was opened
  (although these are used to estimate dark current), galactic latitude,
  solar elongation angle, pointing drift, irregular exposures, and the
  camera's power-on effect. For more details on how images were selected, see
  Symons et al. (2023), Section 2 and Table 2.

  The primary extension of this data set contains LORRI images that have
  been corrected for detector systematics and calibrated to nW m-2  sr-1.
  The secondary extension contains logical masks for each image to exclude
  stars, optical ghosts, hot pixels, and cosmic rays. These images and masks
  can be used to measure the cosmic optical background in each image when
  other foregrounds such as the integrated starlight and diffuse galactic
  light are subtracted.
  
References
==========
  Symons et al., A Measurement of the Cosmic Optical Background and Diffuse
  Galactic Light Scaling from the R < 50 au New Horizons-LORRI Data, 2023 ApJ
  945 45.