GBT24A-450

Bistatic Radar Observations of Slowly Rotating Near-Earth Asteroid 2024 EN

Abstract

We request 2.5 hours (one session) of time on the Green Bank Telescope to perform bistatic (Goldstone) radar observations of recently discovered near-Earth asteroid 2024 EN, preferably on 2024 March 18. Not much is known about this asteroid having been discovered only on March 2. However, optical measurements suggest a diameter within a factor of two of 50 meters as well as a very long rotation period of roughly 200 hours. It is quite rare to find an asteroid tens of meters in diameter rotating so slowly. Typically, such small asteroids are rapid rotators with rotation periods less than a few hours. Therefore, this object is of particular interest for further study. The GBT is specifically needed for these observations to provide sufficient frequency resolution to produce radar images of the asteroid.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Shantanu Naidu	Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Lance Benner	Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Marina Brozovic	Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Patrick Taylor *	National Radio Astronomy Observatory

* indicates the PI