A Complex for Carrying Out Radar Observations of Near-Earth Objects

D. A. Marshalov, Yu. S. Bondarenko, Yu. D. Medvedev, D. E. Vavilov, M. B. Zotov, A. G. Mikhailov

Instruments and Experimental Techniques, Volume 61, Issue 4 , 577–582 (2018)

DOI: 10.1134/S0020441218030235

Abstract

The Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex regularly conduct intercontinental radar observations of near-Earth objects using a 70-m DSS-14 antenna as a transmitter and the 32-m RT-32 radio telescopes of the Quasar VLBI network as receivers. To carry out the observations, the existing complex for reception, conversion, and recording of signals from the RT-32 radio telescopes has been adapted and special software for scheduling observations and processing echo signals has been developed. Since 2015, echoes from the 2011 UW158, 2003 TL4, 2003 YT1, 2003 BD44, and 2014 JO25 asteroids have been recorded. The power spectra of the echoes from these asteroids have been obtained and analyzed.