Early Parkes Observations of Planets and Cosmic Radio Sources

TL;DR

This paper reports early observations from the Parkes telescope detecting planetary radio emissions and identifying the first GPS source, revealing new insights into planetary rotation and radio source spectra.

Contribution

It presents pioneering radio observations of planets and the first recognition of a GPS source, expanding understanding of planetary and extragalactic radio emissions.

Findings

Detected high nighttime temperature on Mercury suggesting rotation

First radio emission detection from Uranus

Identified the first GPS radio source PKS 1934-63

Abstract

We discuss early Parkes observations of the radio emission from the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus. The sensitive Parkes 11 cm system was used to detect a surprisingly high observed nighttime temperature on Mercury, the first, but unrecognized, hint that the Mercury actually rotates with respect to the Sun, as well as detecting the faint radio emission from Uranus. We also discuss the anomalous spectrum of PKS 1934-63, the first recognized GPS source.