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M. C. Nolan, D. B. Campbell, A. A. Hine, J.-L. Margot, P. J. Perillat (NAIC--Arecibo Observatory), S. J. Ostro, L. A. M. Benner, J. D. Giorgini, D. K. Yeomans (JPL), J. F. Chandler (CFA)
We present results from radar imaging of several near-Earth asteroids in 1999. Asteroid 6489 Golevka, 1999 FN19 and 1999 FN53 were imaged at up to 15-m spatial resolution. Similar observations of 1999 JM8 are planned for 1999 August 1-5, and more are likely before the meeting.
Our data show that the Arecibo Planetary Radar system can image 1/2-km near-Earth asteroids well enough to determine shapes and identify large craters, and thus to constrain collision histories.
At the current rate of discovery, The Arecibo Planetary radar system can obtain images of at least a dozen NEAs a year: enough to ensure a statistically meaningful sample and a good distribution of target sizes over the next few years.
All but one of these objects was a ``target of opportunity'', discovered (or recovered) too late for an ordinary telescope proposal, and in some cases only days before the observing window.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: nolan@naic.edu