VLA/Goldstone (California) planetary radar results

Recent results from an entirely new technique of planetary radar astronomy are presented. The Very Large Array (VLA)/Goldstone planetary radar combines the transmitter of the Goldstone antenna and the receivers of the VLA interferometer to create a synthesis imaging radar instrument with unprecedented capabilities. The technique yields improved sensitivity and produces a direct sky map of radar flux density while avoiding the ambiguities associated with conventional range Doppler mapping. The method is illustrated by application to radar mapping of Mars and radar detection of Titan.