Bistatic radar observations of near-earth asteroid (163899) 2003 SD220 from the southern hemisphere

Abstract

We report results of Canberra-ATCA Doppler-only continuous wave (CW) radar observations of near-Earth asteroid (163899) 2003 SD220 at a receiving frequency of 7159 MHz (4.19 cm) on 2018 December 20, 21, and 22 during its close approach within 0.019 au (7.4 lunar distances). Echo power spectra provide evidence that the shape is significantly elongated, asymmetric, and has at least one relatively large concavity. An average spectrum per track yields an OC (opposite sense of circular polarization) radar cross section of 0.39, 0.27, and 0.25 km2, respectively, with an uncertainty of 35%. Variations by roughly a factor of two in the limb-to-limb bandwidth over the three days indicate rotation of an elongated object. We obtain a circular polarization ratio of 0.21 ± 0.07 that is consistent with, but somewhat lower than, the average among other S-class near-Earth asteroids observed by radar.