Bistatic Radar Observations of Planets and Minor Bodies

Bistatic radar experiments with the VLA/Goldstone 8.4 GHz system are an unanticipated use of the VLA which have produced a number of exciting results, including: (i) the discovery of ice deposits at the poles of Mercury, (ii) the discovery of the ``Stealth'' feature on Mars, which produces no detectable echo, and (iii) the discovery that Titan has no deep global ethane/ methane ocean, contrary to expectations.

New 2.4 GHz receivers would enable bistatic radar experiments to be done with both Goldstone and the newly upgraded Arecibo transmitter. Furthermore, the VLA will be better able to support future planetary missions if it is equipped for both the 2.4 and 8.4 GHz telemetry bands.

To maximize support of bistatic radar experiments, the \ must include:

• Adding the 2.4 GHz receivers.
• A correlator with a spectral resolution as high as 5 Hz.
• A correlator which supports simultaneous line and continuum observing as well as simultaneous high- and low-resolution line observing.
• Robust total power measurements.