Planetary Radar at Arecibo Observatory
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Click on an object in the solar system or choose from the list at left
to learn more |
Recently Observed Asteroids:
Interesting Objects from the Past Year
5143 Heracles - Found to be a binary system!
(192642) 1999 RD32 - Found to be a contact binary with multi-kilometer-diameter components
2004 FG11 - Found to be a binary system (with the second smallest primary component as yet found by radar)!
2007 LE - Found to be a binary system (first detected by Goldstone)!
(308242) 2005 GO21
2012 MU2 - Removed from JPL Sentry watchlist of potential Earth-impacting asteroids
(144411) 2004 EW9 - Found to have two large components, each more than 1 km in diameter
(153958) 2002 AM31 - Found to be a binary system!
Comet 189P/NEAT
2012 OO - First detection from NEO confirmation list
All Detections Since August 2012
(162421) 2000 ET70 - Previously observed in Feb 2012
2012 PX - Removed from JPL Sentry watchlist of potential Earth-impacting asteroids
4769 Castalia
2063 Bacchus
2012 JS11
2012 QG42
2012 RV16 - Possible binary?
359 Georgia
110 Lydia
779 Nina
(136993) 1998 ST49 - Found to be a binary system!
2012 TG53
2009 LS
2012 WH1
2010 JK1
2001 YM2
521 Brixia
1994 XD - Still a binary system!
3752 Camillo
99942 Apophis
2013 CZ87
2008 DG17
785 Zwetana
2013 EC20
1993 UC - Found to be a binary system!
14 Irene
2009 SC15
2013 EA
2008 SE85
2001 TA2
29 Amphitrite
2013 FY13
2013 GJ69
(232643) 2005 NZ6
2013 GR38
(360191) 1988 TA
Upcoming Radar Targets:
| Asteroid |
Dates |
Expected
Results |
IRTF
Target? |
H mag |
Request Optical
Astrometry? |
Request Optical
Lightcurve? |
Request Optical
Characterization? |
Notes |
| (7888) 1993 UC |
Mar 11-17 |
High-res Imaging |
|
15.3 |
|
Y |
Y |
Binary! |
| 2005 NZ6 |
Apr 26-01 |
High-res Imaging |
Y |
17.6 |
|
Y |
Y |
"Fast" Contact Binary! |
| (163364) 2002 OD20 |
May 03-04 |
Astrometry |
Y |
18.8 |
|
Y |
Y |
Period unknown |
| (360191) 1988 TA |
May 7-11 |
High-res Imaging |
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20.8 |
|
Y |
Y |
Period unknown |
| (152756) 1999 JV3 |
May 31-01 |
Astrometry |
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18.8 |
|
|
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Period unknown |
| (285263) 1998 QE2 |
Jun 05-11 |
High-res Imaging |
Y |
16.4 |
|
Y |
Y |
Period unknown |
| 2002 GT |
Jun 09-13 |
Astrometry |
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18.3 |
|
|
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Deep Impact flyby |
| 2004 KH17 |
Jun 06 |
Astrometry |
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21.9 |
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GR/J2 target. Period unknown |
| 2006 RO36 |
Jun 16-17 |
Astrometry |
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17.8 |
|
|
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Period unknown |
| 2062 Aten |
Jun 25-30 |
Astrometry |
|
16.8 |
|
|
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Yarkovsky candidate |
| (17188) 1999 WC2 |
Jun 27 |
Astrometry |
Y |
16.8 |
|
Y |
Y |
Period unknown |
| 2005 JE46 |
Jun 29 |
Astrometry |
|
17.8 |
|
|
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Period unknown |
| 2004 YG1 |
Jun 30 |
Astrometry |
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21.4 |
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Period unknown |
Requests for Optical Observations:
Astrometry: optical astrometry is specifically requested for objects with plane-of-sky pointing uncertainties of tens of arcseconds or more.
Lightcurves: optical lightcurves and period estimates are specifically requested for objects that will produce high-resolution images (i.e., possible shape models), for targets of IRTF thermal observations, for candidate binary asteroids, and for potential human-exploration targets.
Characterization: optical characterization refers to spectra and colors, which are most important for targets of IRTF thermal observations, for completeness of the strongest radar targets, for candidate binary asteroids, and for potential human-exploration targets.
Arecibo Observatory Discovers a near-Earth triple asteroid
system
The Arecibo Planetary Radar discovered that near-Earth Asteroid 2001 SN263 is a triple
asteroid system.
Division of Planetary Sciences resolution on the Arecibo planetary
radar
The Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical
Society unanimously passed a resolution on the status of Arecibo
radar.
"One-page" description of the Arecibo planetary radar
We have prepared a one-page informational
flyer that may be useful as a handout to interested parties.
Asteroid Dynamics Workshop
The Arecibo Asteroid Dynamics Workshop was held 2003 Feb 2-4
at Arecibo Observatory. Click Here for the workshop web site.
First Near-Earth Asteroid Satellite System: 2000 DP107
2000 DP107 was the first asteroid identified by radar as a binary system. The primary is roughly spherical with a diameter of 800 meters (a half mile) and the smaller secondary, which orbits it in 1.8 days, is about 300 meters (1000 feet).
The primary has a low density of 1.7 and is assumed to be a "rubble pile" of rocks and voids. It is spinning at a rate near the breakup point for strengthless bodies, and therefore any slight gravitational disturbance can pull it apart. Probably an encounter with the gravity of a planet created the binary by pulling apart the primary.
Four more binary systems have been discovered by radar among the near-Earth asteroids, making one of every 6 a binary.
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A composite of images of 2000 DP107 obtained at Arecibo Observatory in September-October 2000. The frame is 5.8 km vertically, with distance from the observer increasing downward, and 12.2 Hz horizontally, with Doppler frequency or line-of-sight velocity increasing to the right. Rotation and revolution are counterclockwise.
The illuminated front of a roughly spherical primary is visible, as well as a secondary at different phases of the orbital cycle. In this image the secondary appears much smaller than the primary because its spin rate is lower. The actual size ratio is 8 to 3. Also, the orbit appears elliptical in this image
but it is circular in space.
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More on 2000 DP107:
Margot web page ,
Klet Observatory optical data ,
IAU Circular #7496 ,
IAU Circular #7503 ,
Table from NeoDys,
Orbit diagram from JPL
Last modified by Alice 23 apr 02
