Methods and apparatus are described for assessing the reflective properties
of mirrors at different angles of incidence without precise knowledge of the mirror's
basic optical constants and/or without precise knowledge of the mirror's over-coating
prescription. Reflectance values can be accurately calculated for multiple angles
of incidence based upon measurement data collected for a single angle of incidence.
The approach uses equations based on the Fresnel equations for reflectance in which
reflectance is calculated as a function of the angle of incidence of incoming light
to the scanned mirror used to collect the signal. The angle of incidence-based
approach allows accurate reflectance values to be calculated over a broad range
of wavelengths and angle of incidences without detailed knowledge of the optical
properties of the coating material and the substrate underneath. The described
methods and apparatus are particularly useful for calibrating measurements made
with remote sensing instruments that use scanned mirrors.