Bruce Campbell: The Unique Role and Future Impact of Arecibo-GBT 70-cm Lunar Radar Maps

Abstract: From about 2003 to 2017, the 70-cm wavelength radar system at Arecibo was used with a GBT receiver to map most of the Moon’s near side. Because the Moon is very dry, radar signals at 430 MHz can probe tens of meters below the surface, revealing details of ancient geologic features. With the loss of Arecibo, there is no comparable capability at this wavelength for high-resolution, dual-polarization studies. Recent work has reprocessed the earlier data to greatly improve the image quality and registration to orbital photography, expanding the range of science applications. There is also untapped polarimetric information in the original data that will permit better characterization of surface and subsurface geology when compared to other orbital and Earth-based radar images.