A variety of radars designed to explore the hidden structures and properties of the Solar System's planets and bodies

Publication date: Available online 15 September 2016 Source:Comptes Rendus Physique Author(s): Valérie Ciarletti Since the very first observations of the Moon from the Earth with radar in 1946, radars are more and more frequently selected to be part of the payload of exploration missions in the Solar System. They are, in fact, able to collect information on the surface structure of bodies or planets hidden by opaque atmospheres, to probe the planet subsurface or even to reveal the internal structure of a small body comet nucleus. A brief review of radars designed for the Solar System planets and bodies' exploration is presented in the paper. This review does not aim at being exhaustive but will focus on the major results obtained. The variety of radars that have been or are currently designed in terms of frequency or operational modes will be highlighted.

Source: Comptes Rendus Physique - September 15, 2016 Category: Physics Source Type: research