Arecibo Observatory's Planetary Science

Extensive lava flows are found in the equatorial region of Mars, shaping the surface in a very distinct way. In radar images (at the decimeter scale), these flows are bright, with circular polarization ratios greater than one. This is a typical characteristic of extremely rough, blocky lava flows on Earth. Although the source of the extreme dm-scale roughness of Martian lava flows is unknown, their surface roughness can be constrained at the meter scale in an effort to infer their emplacement style. Here, we utilized high-resolution HiRISE images of Mars to construct digital terrain models of 35 lava flows, and measure their surface roughness parameters at a scale never before examined. Our results show that at the meter scale, Martian lava flows are smoother than blocky flows seen on Earth, and similar in roughness to terrestrial pāhoehoe and rubbly flows, as well as young lunar lava flows. However, these latter flows are much smoother at the decimeter scale than Martian lava flows. The differences observed in the surface roughness of Martian lava flows compared to analog lava flows on Earth and the Moon might be the result of: (1) the differences in the emplacement style of the lava flows, and/or (2) the differences in post-emplacement modification processes on the surface of the lava flows.

Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) are a key test bed for investigations into planet formation, asteroid dynamics, and planetary defense initiatives. These studies rely on understanding NEA sizes, albedo distributions, and regolith properties. Simple thermal models are a commonly used method for determining these properties; however, they have inherent limitations owing to the simplifying assumptions they make about asteroid shapes and properties. With the recent collapse of the Arecibo Telescope and a decrease of direct size measurements, as well as future facilities such as LSST and NEO Surveyor coming online soon, these models will play an increasingly important role in our knowledge of the NEA population. Therefore, it is key to understand the limits of these models. In this work we constrain the limitations of simple thermal models by comparing model results to more complex thermophysical models, radar data, and other existing analyses. Furthermore, we present a method for placing tighter constraints on inferred NEA properties using simple thermal models. These comparisons and constraints are explored using the NEA (285263) 1998 QE2 as a case study. We analyze QE2 with a simple thermal model and data from both the NASA IRTF SpeX instrument and NEOWISE mission. We determine an albedo between 0.05 and 0.10 and thermal inertia between 0 and 425J m⁻² s^−1/2 K⁻¹. We find that overall the simple thermal model is able to well constrain the properties of QE2; however, we find that model uncertainties can be influenced by topography, viewing geometry, and the wavelength range of data used.

Opportunistic bistatic radar (BSR) observations of planetary surfaces can probe the textural and electrical properties of several solar system bodies without needing a dedicated instrument or additional mission requirements, providing unique insights into volatile enrichment and supporting future landing, anchoring, and in situ sampling. Given their opportunistic nature, complex observation geometries, and required radiometric knowledge of the received radio signal, these data are particularly challenging to process, analyze, and interpret for most planetary science data users, who can be unfamiliar with link budget analysis of received echoes. The above impedes real-time use of BSR data to support mission operations, such as identifying safe landing locations on small bodies, as was the case for the Rosetta mission. To address this deficiency, we develop an open-source graphical user interface—Processing and Analysis for Radio Science Experiments (PARSE)—that assesses the feasibility of performing BSR observations and automates radiometric signal processing, power spectral analysis, and visualization of DSN planetary radio science data sets acquired during mission operations or archived on NASA's Planetary Data System. In this first release, PARSE automates the processing chain developed for Dawn at Asteroid Vesta, streamlining the detection of DSN-received surface-scatter echoes generated as the spacecraft enters/exits occultations behind the target. Future releases will include support for existing Arecibo data sets and other Earth-based radio observatories. Our tool enables the broader planetary science community, beyond planetary radar signal processing experts, to utilize BSR data sets to characterize electrical and textural properties of planetary surfaces. Such tools are becoming increasingly important as the number of space missions—and subsequent opportunities for orbital radio science observations—continue to grow.

The polarization state of radar echoes from planetary bodies contains information about the scattering mechanisms present on the surface and thus the near-surface physical properties. Polarimetric radar scatter from complex surfaces, such as those observed for spacecraft-visited near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), is not well understood in terms of relating observed polarimetry to surface properties. Here we present an improved methodology for polarimetric analyses of ground-based radar observations of NEAs, extending techniques derived for larger bodies. We calculate the Stokes vector for delay-Doppler images of NEAs and use this to perform the m-chi decomposition and derive polarimetric products such as the degree of polarization, circular polarization ratio, and degree of linear polarization. We apply this methodology to radar observations of NEAs (53319) 1999 JM₈, (101955) Bennu, and (33342) 1998 WT₂₄ obtained by the Arecibo Observatory. We also perform numerical simulations of the m-chi decomposition for irregular boulders to augment the interpretation of the results for NEAs. Our analyses show that significant components of radar echoes are depolarized (random polarization) and linearly polarized. The numerical simulations confirm that depolarization is increased by single scattering from nonspherical wavelength-scale particles. Our analysis suggests that 1999 JM₈ is possibly covered in regolith and that surface scatterers dominate the scattering properties of Bennu. The NEA 1998 WT₂₄ displays diverse polarimetric properties, which we reconcile with optical and thermal observations by assuming a fine-grained regolith mantling a rugged, dense interior. In this work, we demonstrate the usefulness of radar polarimetry in characterizing the physical properties of planetary surfaces.

We report observations of the Apollo-class potentially hazardous asteroid 1981 Midas, which passed 0.090 au from Earth (35 lunar distances) on 2018 March 21. During this close approach, Midas was observed by radar both from the Arecibo Observatory on March 21 through 25 (five nights) and from NASA's Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex on March 19 and 21. Optical lightcurves were obtained by other observers during four apparitions (1987, 1992, 2004, and 2018), which showed a rotation period of 5.22 hr. By combining the lightcurves and radar data, we have constructed a shape model for Midas. This model shows that Midas has two lobes separated by a neck, which, at its thinnest point, is about 60% of the width of the largest lobe. We also confirm the lightcurve-derived rotation period and show that Midas has a pole direction within 6° of ecliptic longitude and latitude (λ, β) = (39°, −60°) and dimensions of (3.41 ± 9%) × (1.90 ± 11%) × (1.27 ± 29%) km. Analysis of gravitational slopes on Midas indicates that nearly all of the surface has a slope less than the typical angle of repose for granular materials, so it does not require cohesion to maintain its shape. In addition, we measured a circular polarization ratio of 0.83 ± 0.04 at Arecibo's 13 cm wavelength, which is the highest seen to date for any near-Earth asteroid with visible and near-infrared spectral type V.

On 2020 April 29, the near-Earth object (52768) 1998 OR2 experienced a close approach to Earth at a distance of 16.4 lunar distances (LD). 1998 OR2 is a potentially hazardous asteroid of absolute magnitude H = 16.04 that can currently come as close to Earth as 3.4 LD. We report here observations of this object in polarimetry, photometry, and radar. Our observations show that the physical characteristics of 1998 OR2 are similar to those of both M- and S-type asteroids. Arecibo's radar observations provide a high radar albedo of ${\hat{\sigma }}_{\mathrm{OC}}\,=$ 0.29 ± 0.08, suggesting that metals are present in 1998 OR2 near-surface. We find a circular polarization ratio of μ_c = 0.291 ± 0.012, and the delay-Doppler images show that the surface of 1998 OR2 is a top-shape asteroid with large-scale structures such as large craters and concavities. The polarimetric observations display a consistent variation of the polarimetric response as a function of the rotational phase, suggesting that the surface of 1998 OR2 is heterogeneous. Color observations suggest an X-complex taxonomy in the Bus–DeMeo classification. Combining optical polarization, radar, and two epochs from the NEOWISE satellite observations, we derived an equivalent diameter of D = 1.80 ± 0.1 km and a visual albedo p_v = 0.21 ± 0.02. Photometric and radar data provide a sidereal rotation period of P = 4.10872 ± 0.00001 hr, a pole orientation of (3323 ± 5°, 207 ± 5°), and a shape model with dimensions of $({2.08}_{-0.10}^{+0.10},{1.93}_{-0.10}^{+0.10},{1.60}_{-0.05}^{+0.05})$ km.

In this paper, we investigate the ability of the Arecibo Observatory to characterize the orbital debris environment and compare it to the primary instrument used by NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office, the Haystack Ultra-Wideband Satellite Imaging Radar (HUSIR). Arecibo's location (183 N) increases the percentage of observable orbits (relative to HUSIR) by 27%, which gives Arecibo access to a much larger and previously unmeasured portion of the environment. Due to the recent collapse of the Arecibo dish, in addition to exploring historic capabilities of the Legacy Arecibo Telescope, estimates of the performance of the proposed Next Generation Arecibo Telescope (NGAT) are explored. We show that the current NGAT design could have a sensitivity comparable to the Goldstone Orbital Debris Radar, currently NASA's most sensitive orbital debris radar. Additionally, design suggestions are presented that would significantly improve the capabilities of the NGAT for orbital debris investigations. We show that, with appropriate hardware upgrades, it would be possible to achieve a minimum-detectable debris size as small as 1 mm. These capabilities would allow data from Arecibo to significantly improve short-term debris environment models, which are used to inform spacecraft design and operations, particularly for orbital debris smaller than 3 mm, which pose the highest penetration risk to most spacecraft.

Over its 57 yr history, the Arecibo telescope was used to produce radar maps of Venus that pioneered our understanding of surface landforms and geologic processes. The best spatial resolution of 1–2 km achievable with the S-band (2380 MHz) transmitter was first used to map the surface in 1988, providing dual-circular polarization images ahead of the Magellan mission. Along with the 1988 observations, high-resolution images from observing runs in 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020 have been archived with the NASA Planetary Data System to preserve these legacy data sets. We document the data collection and processing methods for the Arecibo Venus data, discuss unique aspects of the delay-Doppler imaging, and derive relative calibration factors linking the final multilook maps and Magellan data. The observations also allow for derivation of the circular polarization ratio and, potentially, the Stokes vector components. These results are particularly relevant for long-term monitoring of the spin rate, surface change detection, and planning for S-band polarimetry from the EnVision orbiter mission.

Ground-based planetary radar observations first revealed deposits of potentially nearly pure water ice in some permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) on Mercury's poles. Later, the MESSENGER spacecraft confirmed the icy nature of the deposits, as well as their location within PSRs. Considering the geologic context provided by MESSENGER, we further characterized the north polar deposits by pairing spacecraft data with new Arecibo S-band radar observations. Here we show that some ice deposits within PSRs have a gradational pattern in their radar properties that is likely associated with differences in ice purity. Radar-bright features with a circular polarization ratio μ_c > 1 can be characterized by water ice with ≳3% impurities by volume while those with μ_c < 1 by ≳20% impurities. Furthermore, areas in PSRs with μ_c < 1 typically surround locations of stronger radar backscatter with μ_c > 1. Therefore, deposits of nearly pure water ice are likely surrounded by lower-purity material, such as water-ice-rich regolith, which could be the result of impact gardening or the crater's thermal environment. However, such deposits are not always colocated within large polar craters where ice should be the most stable, even at the surface. In fact, we found that there is no significant difference between the radar backscattering properties of deposits thought to have surficial ice and those with buried ice. Our results also help improve the identification of icy reservoirs elsewhere, such as the Moon. Indeed, we found that μ_c is not an adequate diagnostic, but rather the radar backscatter in each circular polarization independently provides information to identify water-ice deposits.

We report the detection of emission from the OH 18 cm Λ-doublet transitions toward Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE using the Arecibo Telescope. The antenna temperatures are 113 ± 3 mK for the 1667 MHz line and 57 ± 3 mK for the 1665 MHz line. The beam-averaged OH column density (centered on the comet nucleus) derived from the 1667 transition is N_OH = (1.11 ± 0.06) × 10¹³ cm⁻². We implemented the Haser model to derive an OH production rate. The estimated OH production rate using the 1667 transition is Q_OH = (3.6 ± 0.6) × 10²⁸ s⁻¹, a factor of 2.4 lower than optically derived values for the same observing day, the difference of which is likely explained by quenching.

We develop a shape model of asteroid 16 Psyche using observations acquired in a wide range of wavelengths: Arecibo S-band delay-Doppler imaging, Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) plane-of-sky imaging, adaptive optics (AO) images from Keck and the Very Large Telescope (VLT), and a recent stellar occultation. Our shape model has dimensions 278 (−4/+8 km) × 238(−4/+6 km) × 171 km (−1/+5 km), an effective spherical diameter D_eff = 222-1/+4 km, and a spin axis (ecliptic lon, lat) of (36°, −8°) ± 2°. We survey all the features previously reported to exist, tentatively identify several new features, and produce a global map of Psyche. Using 30 calibrated radar echoes, we find Psyche's overall radar albedo to be 0.34 ± 0.08 suggesting that the upper meter of regolith has a significant metal (i.e., Fe–Ni) content. We find four regions of enhanced or complex radar albedo, one of which correlates well with a previously identified feature on Psyche, and all of which appear to correlate with patches of relatively high optical albedo. Based on these findings, we cannot rule out a model of Psyche as a remnant core, but our preferred interpretation is that Psyche is a differentiated world with a regolith composition analogous to enstatite or CH/CB chondrites and peppered with localized regions of high metal concentrations. The most credible formation mechanism for these regions is ferrovolcanism as proposed by Johnson et al. (2020).

We conducted radar observations of near-Earth asteroid 2019 OK on 2019 July 25 using the Arecibo Observatory S-band (2380 MHz, 12.6 cm) planetary radar system. Based on Arecibo and optical observations the apparent diameter is between 70 and 130 m. Combined with an absolute magnitude of H = 23.3 ± 0.3, the optical albedo of 2019 OK is likely between 0.05 and 0.17. Our measured radar circular polarization ratio of μ_C = 0.33 ± 0.03 indicates 2019 OK is likely not a V- or E-type asteroid and is most likely a C- or S-type. The measured radar echo bandwidth of 39 ± 2 Hz restricts the apparent rotation period to be approximately between 3 minutes (0.049 hr, D = 70 m) and 5 minutes (0.091 h, D = 130 m). Together, the apparent diameter and rotation period suggest that 2019 OK is likely not a rubble-pile body bound only by gravity. 2019 OK is one of a growing number of fast-rotating near-Earth asteroids that require some internal strength to keep them from breaking apart.

We present new high-resolution topographic, illumination, and thermal models of Mercury's 112 km diameter north polar crater, Prokofiev. The new models confirm previous results that water ice is stable at the surface within the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) of Prokofiev for geologic timescales. The largest radar-bright region in Prokofiev is confirmed to extend up to several kilometers past the boundary of its PSR, making it unique on Mercury for hosting a significant radar-bright area outside a PSR. The near-infrared normal albedo distribution of Prokofiev's PSR suggests the presence of a darkening agent rather than pure surface ice. Linear mixture models predict at least roughly half of the surface area to be covered with this dark material. Using improved altimetry in this crater, we place an upper limit of 26 m on its ice deposit thickness. The 1 km baseline topographic slope and roughness of the radar-bright deposit are lower than the non-radar-bright floor, although the difference is not statistically significant when compared to the non-radar-bright floor's natural topographic variations. These results place new constraints on the nature of Prokofiev's volatile deposit that will inform future missions, such as BepiColombo.

The surfaces of airless bodies such as asteroids are exposed to many phenomena that can alter their physical properties. Bennu, the target of the OSIRIS-REx mission, has demonstrated how complex the surface of a small body can be. In 2019 November, the potentially hazardous asteroid 2015 JD₁ experienced a close approach of 0.033 1 au from the Earth. We present results of the physical characterization of 2015 JD₁ based on ground-based radar, spectroscopy, and photometric observations acquired during 2019 November. Radar polarimetry measurements from the Arecibo Observatory indicate a morphologically complex surface. The delay-Doppler images reveal a contact binary asteroid with an estimated visible extent of ∼150 m. Our observations suggest that 2015 JD₁ is an E-type asteroid with a surface composition similar to aubrites, a class of differentiated enstatite meteorites. The dynamical properties of 2015 JD₁ suggest that it came from the ν₆ resonance with Jupiter, and spectral comparison with major E-type bodies suggests that it may have been derived from a parental body similar to the progenitor of the E-type (64) Angelina. Significantly, we find rotational spectral variation across the surface of 2015 JD₁ from the red to blue spectral slope. Our compositional analysis suggests that the spectral slope variation could be due to the lack of iron and sulfides in one area of the surface of 2015 JD₁ and/or differences in grain sizes.

The Aristarchus plateau represents one of the most complex volcanic provinces on the lunar surface and is host to the largest pyroclastic deposit on the Moon. Lunar pyroclastic deposits offer a window into the Moon's interior and represent a valuable resource to support a sustained human presence. We present a new analysis of the Aristarchus pyroclastic deposit using Mini-RF bistatic radar data at wavelengths of 4.2 and 12.6 cm. Building on previous Earth-based Arecibo Observatory radar studies at 12.6 and 70 cm, we place further constraints on the spatial extent of the pyroclastic deposit and investigate the clast size distribution and provenance of foreign material distributed within the formation. Concentrations of blocky material >0.5 cm in diameter and suspended within the upper decimeters of the pyroclastic deposit are associated with potential buried mare flows along the rim of Vallis Schröteri and discrete pockets of primary material ejected by the Aristarchus impact. Unraveling the deposit from nonpyroclastic materials and the surrounding landscape creates new constraints with which to reconstruct the volcanic history of the region. From a future mission perspective, the identification of primary Aristarchus material distributed across the plateau offers an opportunity to sample diverse volcanic lithologies within an area that could be sampled by a single Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission. In terms of lunar resource in situ utilization, such ejected material also represents a contaminant; thus, radar data provide an invaluable tool to identify pristine pyroclastic material for mission planners.

Quantifying the volumes and geologic nature of lunar volcanic eruptions is important for constraining the thermal and geologic evolution of the Moon. Cryptomaria are effusive, basaltic lava flows on the Moon that were subsequently buried, and therefore hidden, by higher-albedo basin and crater ejecta. Radar offers the ability to probe the subsurface for geologic units not otherwise apparent at the surface. We use Arecibo/Green Bank Observatory and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mini-RF radar data sets to characterize maria and cryptomaria within the Schiller–Schickard region. We find significant variability in the radar backscatter across the region that does not correspond to previously mapped boundaries of maria and cryptomaria in the literature. We use the characteristic low backscatter (due to the attenuating nature in radio waves of some basaltic minerals) to analyze the distribution of cryptomaria. We use the reduction in radar backscatter to estimate burial depths of cryptomaria across the area. We present a new map of Schiller–Schickard cryptomaria and the local variability in the thicknesses of the light plains that bury the basalts. We find burial depths ranging from >100 m in the deepest areas to just a few to tens of meters in areas with shallow cryptomaria (particularly prominent in the southeast). These areas are generally contiguous with maria, allowing us to track mare lava flow units into the subsurface at mare/highland margins. We propose that ∼67% of the region contains surface or buried basaltic volcanism, which represents over twice (2.7× increase) the areal extent of cryptomaria reported in previous studies.

We successfully observed 191 near-Earth asteroids using the Arecibo Observatory's S-band planetary radar system from 2017 December through 2019 December. We present radar cross sections for 167 asteroids; circular-polarization ratios for 112 asteroids based on Doppler-echo-power spectra measurements; and radar albedos, constraints on size and spin periods, and surface-feature and shape evaluation for 37 selected asteroids using delay-Doppler radar images with a range resolution of 75 m or finer. Out of 33 asteroids with an estimated effective diameter of at least 200 m and sufficient image quality to give clues of the shape, at least 4 (∼12%) are binary asteroids, including 1 equal-mass binary asteroid, 2017 YE5, and at least 10 (∼30%) are contact-binary asteroids. For 5 out of 112 asteroids with reliable measurements in both circular polarizations, we measured circular-polarization ratios greater than 1.0, which could indicate that they are E-type asteroids, while the mean and the 1σ standard deviation were 0.37 ± 0.23. Further, we find a mean opposite-sense circular-polarization radar albedo of 0.21 ± 0.11 for 41 asteroids (0.19 ± 0.06 for 11 S-complex asteroids). We identified two asteroids, 2011 WN15 and (505657) 2014 SR339, as possible metal-rich objects based on their unusually high radar albedos, and discuss possible evidence of water ice in 2017 YE5.

We present an occultation study of compact radio sources by the plasma tail of interstellar comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4) both pre- and near-perihelion using the Arecibo and Green Bank radio telescopes. The interplanetary scintillation technique was used to probe the plasma tail at the P band (302–352 MHz), 820 MHz, and the L band (1120–1730 MHz). The presence and absence of scintillation at different perpendicular distances from the central axis of the plasma tail suggests a narrow tail of less than 6' at a distance of ∼10' (∼10⁶ km) from the comet nucleus. Data recorded during the occultation of B1019+083 on 2019 October 31 with the Arecibo Telescope covered the width of the plasma tail from its outer region to the central axis. The systematic increase in scintillation during the occultation provides the plasma properties associated with the tail when the comet was at its pre-perihelion phase. The excess level of L-band scintillation indicates a plasma density enhancement of ∼15–20 times that of the background solar wind. The evolving shape of the observed scintillation power spectra across the tail from its edge to the central axis suggests a density spectrum flatter than Kolmogorov and that the plasma density irregularity scales present in the tail range between 10 and 700 km. The discovery of a high-frequency spectral excess corresponding to irregularity scales much smaller than the Fresnel scale suggests the presence of small-scale density structures in the plasma tail, likely caused by interaction between the solar wind and the plasma environment formed by the comet.