radar astronomy

American  

noun

1. the branch of astronomy that uses radar to map the surfaces of planetary bodies, as the moon and Venus, and to determine periods of rotation.

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radar astronomy British  

noun

1. the use of radar to map the surfaces of the planets, their satellites, and other bodies

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radar astronomy Scientific  

1. The scientific study of nearby astronomical objects by reflecting microwaves off the objects and analyzing the echoes. The techniques of radio astronomy can be tailored to answer specific questions, such as the rotation period of the inner planets and the Moon. They have has also been used to test General Relativity, measure distances and features of planets in the solar system, and determine the composition, position, and spin of asteroids.

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Etymology

Origin of radar astronomy

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

China is constructing the world’s largest radar astronomy array, which will help track asteroids that could threaten Earth.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 22, 2023

Compare and contrast radio and radar astronomy in terms of the equipment needed, the methods used, and the kind of results obtained.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

Some of our most powerful sources are radar transmitters; a few are used for radar astronomy, to probe with radio fingers the surfaces of the nearby planets.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

In radar astronomy, radio waves are transmitted by a telescope on Earth, strike, say, that hemisphere of Venus that happens to be facing the Earth, and bounce back.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan