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
(285263) 1998 QE2 - A dark, cratered binary asteroid safely passing Earth
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)!
(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!
2012 OO - First detection from NEO confirmation list
All Detections in 2013
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
2010 VA1
(137199) 1999 KX4
(152756) 1999 JV3
(163249) 2002 GT
2013 JB36
(285263) 1998 QE2 - Found to be a binary system (first detected by Goldstone)!
2004 KH17
2013 LB2 - Line-of-sight range correction of almost 2 Earth radii!
2013 JR28
2013 LL25
1627 Ivar
2013 LC7
(340666) 2006 RO36
(17188) 1999 WC2
(363790) 2005 JE46
2062 Aten
(153349) 2001 PJ9
(7753) 1988 XB
2003 DZ15
(277475) 2005 WK4
2013 QR1
2013 PR43
2009 WH106
2010 CF19
2007 CN26
(52760) 1998 ML14
(232691) 2004 AR1
(363305) 2002 NV16
329 Bamberga
2013 HG20
(329437) 2002 OA22
89 Julia
(152664) 1998 FW4
2013 QN11
(24445) 2000 PM8
Upcoming Radar Targets:
| Asteroid |
Dates |
Expected
Results |
IRTF
Target? |
H mag |
Request Optical
Astrometry? |
Request Optical
Lightcurve? |
Request Optical
Characterization? |
Notes |
| (52760) 1998 ML14 |
Aug 26-31 |
High-res Imaging |
|
17.7 |
|
|
Y |
P = 14.98 h, spheroid |
| 2007 CN26 |
Aug 28-02 |
High-res Imaging |
|
21.0 |
|
Y |
Y |
Period unknown |
| (232691) 2004 AR1 |
Aug 30-02 |
High-res Imaging |
|
19.7 |
|
Y |
Y |
Period unknown |
| (363305) 2002 NV16 |
Sep 10-12 |
Imaging |
|
21.4 |
|
Y |
Y |
NHATS target |
| (329437) 2002 OA22 |
Sep 16-21 |
High-res Imaging |
Y |
19.3 |
|
Y |
Y |
P = 10.5 h |
| (152664) 1998 FW4 |
Sep 22-27 |
High-res Imaging |
Y |
19.6 |
|
Y |
Y |
P = 10 h?, contact binary |
| (138095) 2000 DK79 |
Nov 14-17 |
Imaging |
Y |
15.6 |
|
Y |
Y |
Period unknown |
| 1997 WQ23 |
Nov 18-21 |
High-res Imaging |
|
20.4 |
3' |
Y |
|
Period unknown |
| (85774) 1998 UT18 |
Nov 19-22 |
Imaging |
|
19.1 |
|
|
|
P = 34 h, elongated |
| 2006 CT |
Dec 09-11 |
Astrometry |
|
22.4 |
1' |
Y |
Y |
NHATS target |
| 2009 WZ104 |
Dec 09-11 |
Astrometry |
|
20.0 |
|
|
Y |
NHATS target |
| 2001 AV43 |
Nov-Dec |
Astrometry |
|
24.4 |
Y (50') |
|
Y |
NHATS target |
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
