Scientists create a huge ground-based radar to protect the Earth

New radar system being developed by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and

Green Bank Observatory will transmit powerfulradar signals from the Green Bank Telescope and reflect these signals from the Moon. The reflected signal can be received by antenna arrays in various locations in the United States, from Hawaii to the Virgin Islands. The antenna combination acts as a giant high-resolution radar imaging system.

Powerful radar systems withinFor several decades, they played an important role in the study of planets, moons, asteroids and other objects of the solar system. They now have a “unique role” in planetary defense, namely “ensuring the world is protected from destructive impacts from asteroids and comets,” according to the recently released Decadal Review of Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the Green Bank Observatory (GBO) are developing upgrades for the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) radio telescope. This will make them key tools for protecting the Earth.

The report highlights the dangerous consequencescollisions with near-Earth objects (NEOs). The key to solving the problem is to track objects and measure their sizes and other characteristics. The goal is to understand the likelihood of a collision with Earth and the possible effect. And according to the scientists' research, high-power radar will be an important tool for solving this problem.

Before its collapse in 2020, the Arecibo telescopehad the most powerful radar capabilities for the global astronomical community, often operating with GBT and VLBA as receivers. The next generation radar system being developed for GBT and VLBA, and then the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA), will replace Arecibo and protect the Earth.

Read more

Is the standard model of physics no longer relevant? The main thing about the new work of scientists at the collider

Scientists 'resurrect' an ancient enzyme to feed 9 billion people by 2050

Found traces of the strongest earthquake in the history of mankind