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Intercontinental Bistatic Radar Test Observation of Asteroid 1998 WT24We describe the first intercontinental planetary radar test performed in Italy observing the near Earth asteroid (NEA) 33342 (1998 WT24) in December 2001 by means of the bistatic configurations Goldstone (California, USA)-Medicina (Italy) and Evpatoria (Ukraine)-Medicina. The experiment goal was to characterize the system for realtime radar follow-up observations of NEAs and artificial orbiting debris, in the framework of a feasibility study which aims at using the Sardinia Radio Telescope, at present under construction, also as a planetary radar facility. We report the preliminary results of the radar observations carried out by the IRA-CNR (Instituto di Radioastronomia - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche) and the OATo (Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino) groups, aimed at exploring the scientific potentials of a new space radar program, using the existing facilities in Italy. The planetary radar technique is uniquely capable of investigating geometry and surface properties of various solar system objects, demonstrating advantages over the optical methods in its high spatial resolution and ability to obtain three-dimensional images. A single radar detection allows to obtain extremely accurate orbital elements, improving the instantaneous positional uncertainties by orders of magnitude with respect to an optically determined orbit. Radar is a powerful means to spatially resolve NEAs by measuring the distribution of the echo power in time delay (range) and Doppler frequency (line-of-sight velocity) with extreme precision in each coordinate, as it provides detailed information about the target physical properties like size, shape, rotation, near-surface bulk density and roughness and internal density distribution. The Medicina 32m antenna had been successfully used for the first time as the receiving part of a bistatic configuration during a test experiment (September 2001) held to check the capabilities of the entire data acquisition system. This test was possible thanks to the collaboration undertaken with the Evpatoria radar station, and consisted in the observation of the ETALON-1 low orbit satellite
Document ID
20020074755
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Righini, S.
(Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Bologna, Italy)
Poppi, S.
(Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Bologna, Italy)
Montebugnoli, S.
(Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Bologna, Italy)
DiMartino, M.
(Osservatorio Astronomico Turin, Italy)
Saba, L.
(Osservatorio Astronomico Turin, Italy)
Delbo, M.
(Osservatorio Astronomico Turin, Italy)
Ostro, S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA United States)
Monari, J.
(Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Bologna, Italy)
Poloni, M.
(Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Bologna, Italy)
Orlati, A.
(Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Bologna, Italy)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: Solar System Remote Sensing
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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