Radar observations
Radar astronomy is one of the most effective methods of Earth-based remote sensing of asteroids, comets and planets of the solar system. The size, shape, spin period, high spatial resolution radar maps, surface and subsurface physical properties can be obtained using radar observations. Such observations suggest a transmitting and receiving antenna systems, a highly sensitive equipment for detecting echo signals and a software for observations scheduling and data processing. The Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAA RAS) regularly participates in radar observations of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) [2] and the Moon [3]. The sources of radio signals at different times were the 70-meter antenna of the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (USA) and the 305-meter radio telescope located at the Arecibo Observatory (Puerto Rico), equipped with powerful transmitters, as well as 35-meter antenna (DSA 3) of the European Space Tracking (ESTRACK) network at Malargüe station (Argentina), 35-meter antenna of the Chinese Deep Space Network (CDSN) located at the CLTC-CONAE-NEUQUEN station (Argentina) and 64-meter antenna (TNA-1500) of the Space Communications Center (SCC) Bear Lakes (Russia). Detection of signals reflected from asteroids is performed with 32-meter or 13.2-meter radio telescopes of the Russian VLBI Network Quasar. The first radar observations in IAA RAS were carried out in July 2015 in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology and the Goldstone Observatory. The object of study was the potentially hazardous asteroid 2011 UW158 during its close approach to the Earth.
Observations of NEOs
| Observation Date | Object | Diameter | Approach Date | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Dec 04-21 | 2003 SD220 | 600-1200 m | 2021 Dec 17 | 0.03628 AU (14.12 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2021 Dec 04-10 | 4660 Nereus | ~330 m | 2021 Dec 11 | 0.02630 AU (10.23 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2021 May 03 | 2021 AF8 | ~300 m | 2021 May 04 | 0.02246 AU (8.7 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2020 Nov 30 | 2020 SO | ~10x3 m | 2020 Dec 01 | 0.00034 AU (0.13 LD) | Artificial Object |
| 2020 Apr 19-22 | 1998 OR2 | ~2060 m | 2020 Apr 29 | 0.04205 AU (16.4 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2018 Dec 17-22 | 2003 SD220 | 600-1200 m | 2018 Dec 22 | 0.01890 AU (7.4 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2018 Mar 05 | 2017 VR12 | 138 m | 2018 Mar 7 | 0.00966 AU (3.8 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2017 Sep 04 | 3122 Florence | 4350 m | 2017 Sep 1 | 0.04724 AU (18.4 LD) | Triple Asteroid |
| 2017 Apr 18-20 | 2003 BD44 | ~1400 m | 2017 Apr 18 | 0.05574 AU (21.7 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2017 Apr 18-20 | 2014 JO25 | ~650 m | 2017 Apr 19 | 0.01175 AU (4.6 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2016 Oct 31 | 2003 YT1 | 1100 m | 2016 Oct 31 | 0.03477 AU (13.6 LD) | Binary Asteroid |
| 2016 Oct 29 | 2003 TL4 | ~380 m | 2016 Oct 27 | 0.02586 AU (10.1 LD) | Asteroid |
| 2015 Jul 18-19 | 2011 UW158 | 320 m | 2015 Jul 19 | 0.01644 AU (6.4 LD) | Asteroid |
Observations of the Moon
| Observation Date | Region |
|---|---|
| 2023 May 26 | South Pole |
| 2023 Mar 30 | Manzinus and Boguslawsky Craters |
| 2021 Sep 01-07 | Crater Archimedes, Rima Hadley, Mare Serenitatis, Crater Tycho |
| 2020 Oct 26-29 | Crater Archimedes |
| 2020 Aug 13 | Mare Imbrium |
| 2019 Apr 26 | Mare Imbrium |
Lunar Radar Maps
Lunar Radar Maps is a Web Map Service that provides access to Lunar data from IAA RAS [3], NASA LRO, NASA PDS archive and other data available in the public domain.
Observations of Planets
| Observation Date | Planet |
|---|---|
| 2022 Jan 22 | Venus |
Publications
Related Links
Remarks
This website section is maintained by Dr. Yuri Bondarenko and Dr. Dmitrii Marshalov.
This work was supported by the Russian Scientific Foundation grant No. 16-12-00071.
Lunar Radar Maps Web Map Service was developed with the support of the Russian Scientific Foundation grant No. 23-22-00254.