GBT25B-385

Bistatic DSS-13/Green Bank Radar Observations of Asteroid 2025 TP5

Abstract

We request 1.5 hours (one session) of time on the Green Bank Telescope to perform C-band bistatic (7.19 GHz; Goldstone DSS-13) radar observations of recently discovered near-Earth asteroid 2025 TP5 on 2025 October 16 from 10:00 to 11:30 UT. Not much is known about this asteroid having been discovered only on October 13, only that optical measurements suggest a diameter of roughly 20 meters. It made a close approach to Earth on October 15 within 0.25 lunar distances, one of the closest approaches to Earth by an asteroid this size in the last several years. Astrometry from radar observations will increase the predictability of future close approaches to Earth by this object decades into the future. We note that DSS-13 to GBT bistatic radar is the only northern hemisphere radar system currently available as DSS-13 cannot receive its own echoes.

Investigators

Name	Institution
William Armentrout	Green Bank Observatory
Evan Smith	Green Bank Observatory
Patrick Taylor *	National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Lance Benner	Jet Propulsion Laboratory

* indicates the PI