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Proposal Identification No.: R1823 Date Received: 2005­May­31 15:56:13
Technical Page
Proposal Type: Urgent
General Category: Planetary Radar
Observation Category: Solar System
Total Time Requested: 20 Hours
Proposal Title: Radar Observations of Near­Earth Asteroid 2003 KP2
ABSTRACT:
Relatively large objects such as 2003 KP2 (3 km diameter) are available for imaging only a few times per year, and
we need to use every opportunity to image these targets. These large (>1 km) objects which, if on a collision
course with Earth, would be capable of causing global destruction. Although there is no general agreement as to
the best method for hazard mitigation, all agree that knowing as much as possible about internal structure of the
asteroid in question is vital. Radar imaging can help determine the internal structure by giving us information
about the size, spin rate and even density in the case of binary systems.
Asteroid 2003 KP2 was discovered by the LINEAR asteroid search program on 22 May, 2003. Nothing is known
about the physical properties of this object other than its absolute magnitude of 15.3, which suggests that its
diameter is within a factor of two of 3 km. Assuming a rotation period of 4 h, we should be able to obtain S/N of
about 30 per run, and obtain images at 100 m resolution during its approach to 0.19 AU of the Earth in late
September 2003. If the object has a relatively slow rotation rate, then the S/N will be higher than predicted,
allowing higher resolution imaging, but we will need several days to obtain good rotational coverage. A fast
rotation rate will simplify the rotational coverage, but several days will be required to achieve su#cient S/N.
Imaging at 100m resolution will allow good determination of the overall shape of the object, and will resolve large
surface features. It will also allow detection of satellites, if any exist.
The 2003 apparition is the best opportunity to observe this object for at least 80 years.
Name Institution E­mail Phone Student
Michael C Nolan Arecibo Observatory nolan@naic.edu 787 878 2612
x334
no
Service Observing Request Remot e Observing Request
X None X No
All of the observing run. Maybe
Part of the observing run. Yes
Queue Observing
Instrument Setup
S­Band radar S­band receiver
1

Atmospheric Observation Instruments:
Special Equipment or setup: none
RFI Considerations
Frequency Ranges Planned
2