Arecibo S-band radar program

Abstract

The high powered 12.6 cm wavelength radar on the 1000 ft Arecibo reflector is used for a variety of studies of solar system bodies. These include: (1) the radar mapping of the surfaces of Mercury, Venus, the moon and Mars in both senses (usually the two circulars) of received polarization; (2) high time resolution ranging measurements to Mercury and Mars to obtain height profiles and scattering parameters in the equatorial region and to test relativistic and gravitational theories; (3) measurements of the orbital parameters, scattering properties, figure and spin vectors of asteroids and comets; and (4) observations of the satellites of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, and the Galilean satellites of Jupiter