Speaker
Description
We present the use of the University of Tasmania's (UTAS) optical and radio telescopes to conduct observations of near-Earth objects from 2021 to 2024. The Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex transmitted at 7159.45 MHz, with the radar echo detected by the UTAS radio telescopes. The method of accounting for the Doppler shift between the stations and the near-Earth object will be described so as others could implement a similar program. We share our results, with confirmed detections of 1994 PC1 using the Hobart and Katherine 12m antennas, 2003 UC20 and 2024 MK with the Hobart 12m antenna, demonstrating the feasibility of using small radio telescopes for these observations. Data collected from other observatories, such as Tidbinbilla, as well as UTAS radar tracking of the moon, will also be presented in the context of demonstrating the means of applying these Doppler corrections and the accuracy of each method. Optical observations conducted in this period will also be detailed, as they complement radar observations and aid in refining the orbit parameters. Furthermore, in 2024 we have incorporated observations with optical telescopes to broader the scope of our measurements in the context for planetary defense.