Development of Radar and Optical Tracking of Near-Earth Asteroids at the University of Tasmania

TL;DR

This paper describes the development and implementation of radar and optical tracking methods at the University of Tasmania for near-Earth asteroids, demonstrating successful detections and data integration from 2021 to 2024.

Contribution

It introduces a combined radar and optical tracking system for near-Earth asteroids, including Doppler correction techniques and the use of small radio telescopes for asteroid detection.

Findings

Confirmed detections of asteroids 1994 PC1 and 2003 UC20

Detection of asteroid 2024 MK with upgraded Ceduna antenna

Validation of Doppler correction methods using multiple observatories

Abstract

We detail the use of the University of Tasmania's (UTAS) optical and radio telescopes to conduct observations of near-Earth asteroids from 2021 to 2024. The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex transmitted a radio signal at 7159.45 MHz, with the radar echo detected by the UTAS radio telescopes. The method of accounting for the Doppler shift between the stations and the near-Earth object is described so that others can implement a similar program. We present our results, with confirmed detections of 1994 PC1 and 2003 UC20 asteroids using the Hobart and Katherine 12-m antennas, demonstrating the feasibility of using small radio telescopes for these observations. Additionally, the recently upgraded Ceduna 30 m antenna was used to detect 2024 MK. Data collected from other observatories, such as Tidbinbilla, as well as the UTAS radar tracking of the moon are also presented in the context of demonstrating the means of applying these Doppler corrections and the accuracy of each method. Optical observations conducted in this period are also detailed as they complement radar observations and aid in refining the orbit parameters.