Results of the first Italian planetary radar experiment
Abstract
We describe the first intercontinental planetary radar initiative undertaken in Italy. We present the results of the observations of Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) 33342 (1998 WT24), performed in December 2001 using the bistatic configurations Goldstone-Medicina and Evpatoria-Medicina, with the 32-m Medicina dish used to receive echoes in both cases. The experiment goal was to characterise the system for radar follow-up observations of NEA 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.
- Publication:
-
Planetary and Space Science
- Pub Date:
- March 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.pss.2003.09.001
- Bibcode:
- 2004P&SS...52..325D
- Keywords:
-
- Asteroids;
- Radar;
- Remote sensing;
- Spectroscopy