Space probe of Jupiter
Media
Part of Panorama
- Title
- Space probe of Jupiter
- Language
- English
- Year
- 1960
- Subject
- Jupiter (Planet)
- Radar antennas.
- Cornell University.
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- Can you do it? Te world’s largest radar antenna soon to be built in Puerto Rico will be used to probe the surface of the pla net Jupiter. If radar signals are reflected by Jupiter, U.S. scientists ex pect to gather new informa tion about the planet’s surface. If no signals are reflected, Scientists will know for the first $me that this largest of the outer planets is shrouded in a de£p atmosphere that absorbs radio waves. The giant radar, to be the biggest in the world, is being financed by the U.S. Depart ment of Defense and will be used by Cornell University’s new Center for Radiophysics and Space Research. The radar is to have a 1,000foot receiving dish nestled in a natural bowl of coral limestone. This antenna is four times lar ger than Britain’s powerful Jodrell Bank unit which now holds the record for contacting Venus. The Cornell-designed radar unit is to be able to probe at distance of 40,000,000 miles. It will operate on a peak power of 2,500,000 watts and a fre quency near 420 megacycles a second. The finger-like radar beam will te able to sweep 20 degrees in each direction, and may shed new knowledge on the earth’s own ionosphere. In addition, the radar will be able' to bounce signals from the moon, Venus, Mars, Mercury and the sun. The new Center for Radio physics and Space Research will be directed by Thomas Gold, 39-year-old professor of astronomy, physics and electri cal engineering. Other installa tions planned for the Center will include a radio astronomy receiving station south of Itha ca and a transmitting station on Cornell’s campus. 92 Panorama