IRAS data in April 1983 held evidence for the approach of a comet which would pass close enough to earth to bounce radar signals off the cometary nucleus. The closest pass was calculated to be 450,000 km. Ephemerides were prepared for the object while radio observatory tracking schedules were arranged. S-band observations were selected for the JPL 64 m antenna to obtain 2.7 arcmin resolution. A 400 kW signal was generated. Two 4 hr observational periods were achieved, revealing a rough, faceted surface by using S-band in the first run and the X-band in the second. The comet was concluded irregularly shaped and roughly elliptical, with a 2 d period.


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    Title :

    Seeing Comet IRAS with a radar eye


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1985-05-01



    Type of media :

    Miscellaneous


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English


    Keywords :


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