Physical modeling of Earth-crossing asteroids using radar and optical data

"Folks, we start with only the finest radar and optical data. Then we apply our very own slow roast processing. Finally, after weeks in a workstation why we'z ready to serve y'all one doggone fine asteroid model. Come get 'em!"

Introduction

The ability to produce delay-Doppler images of asteroids is exiting but a bit perplexing. Clearly there is a lot of information in these images, but, because radar forms images in a way that is quite different from the way our eyes work, delay-Doppler images are not very intuitive.

Laboratory Studies

Shown at left is a laboratory laser-radar. This system can produce optical "delay-Doppler" images of clay models analogous to radar delay-Doppler images of asteroids.

Here are laser radar images of a rock (top row) taken with the above system. The bottom row shows the normal opical view of the rock at the same orientation.

This is an example of a computer shape reconstruction using data from the laser radar system.

Reconstructions