BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//ZContent.net//ZapCalLib 1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Atlantic/Canary:20080919T000000
DTEND;TZID=Atlantic/Canary:20080919T010000
UID:iactalks-156
X-WR-CALNAME: IAC Talks: Open Astronomy Seminars
X-ORIGINAL-URL: /iactalks/Talks/view/156
CREATED:2008-09-19T00:00:00+01:00
X-WR-CALDESC: IAC Talks upcomming talks
SUMMARY:What do we learn from radar observations of asteroids and comets?
DESCRIPTION:What do we learn from radar observations of asteroids and comet
 s?\nDr. Ellen S. Howell\n\nRadar observation of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs
 ) reveal the size, shape, spin characteristics of the population of small 
 bodies near the Earth. Although spacecraft missions may give higher resolu
 tion images, they are infrequent and expensive. Only through ground based 
 observations can we hope to understand the diverse population of NEAs. Rad
 ar imaging reveals surface features and shape at up to 7.5-m resolution. W
 e see a surprising variety of object shapes, which tells us about their fo
 rmation and evolution. Binary NEAs are easily detected using radar regardl
 ess of viewing geometry, the characteristics of which have led to new idea
 s about NEA evolution and internal structure. Craters and other surface co
 ncavities are often visible in radar images, unlike lightcurve-based shape
  models. Although opportunities to observe comets with radar are rare, mor
 e than ten comet nuclei have been detected to date, three with high resolu
 tion imaging. Radar observations have played an important role in a number
  of key areas in small body science, some of which will be discussed in th
 is talk.
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR