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Can radar be used to search for NEOs?

Radar is not ideally suited to the initial search for NEOs because of its low range, small beam (analogous to searching for a plane at night with a laser beam) and relatively high cost. However, once an NEO has been identified and is close enough to the Earth, radar can be used to determine its orbit very accurately. Radar can also accurately determine the size, shape and spin rate of an NEO which are important to know if action ever has to be taken to avert a collision.

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last updated on 25/09/06
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