SPS - Asteroid Radar Astronomy and Space Missions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y354iPNI8p8 Streamed live on Mar 15, 2016. Special guest: Dr. Michael W. Busch ( @michael_w_busch ), research scientist with the SETI Institute. The near-Earth asteroids are a population of objects on orbits around the Sun that cross or come near that of Earth.  They are important to understand the history of small bodies in the solar system, as targets of spacecraft missions, and because of the asteroid impact hazard.  Radar astronomy using transmitters at the Arecibo Observatory and at the Goldstone Deep Space Network site has allowed detailed imaging and characterization of a large number of near-Earth asteroids.  I will review the techniques of radar astronomy and describe results for selected objects; with a particular focus on targets of past, current, and future space missions. Do go visit http://astrogear.spreadshirt.com/ for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by Astrosphere New Media. http://www.astrosphere.org/ Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org. While you're at it, do support our Learning Space educator training program by going to this site: https://www.patreon.com/LearningSpace Please help us keep training the trainers! Learning Space is a weekly G+ Hangout on Air about topics in astronomy education, outreach and other ways to share science both in the school setting and outside it. We bring you interviews, hands-on demonstrations, lists of our favorite educational resources and more!