Animation of Radar Speckle Tracking Asteroids with Radio Telescopes
Animation of Radar Speckle Tracking Asteroids with Radio Telescopes
A signal is bounced off of asteroids, depending on how the asteroid is spinning, the reflected images will be seen by different antennas of the VLBA at different times. By measuring the timing differences, we can calculate the direction and speed of rotation. Learn more about what radio telescopes can tell us about asteroids: https://public.nrao.edu/explorer/milkyway/TheMilkyWayExplorer.php?map=MWE_SolarSystem&id=SS_008
Credit: Bill Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF). Music: Mark Mercury.
Credit: Bill Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF). Music: Mark Mercury.