Planetary Radar

Abstract

The application of modern planetary radar techniques to a comet passing in close proximity to Earth is discussed. These techniques have the potential to determine the nature of cometary origins, structure, and internal dynamics. Moreover, the understanding gained could very likely negate or corroborate one of the prevailing hypotheses regarding the origin of the solar system: that comets are the remainder of the primordial out of which the planets coalesced approximately 4.5 billion years ago. In 1983, two unique opportunities were presented to observe a comet very near to Earth. The last such encounter was several centuries ago.