Solar map obtained at 18 GHz with the Medicina dish
Earth, Sun and Solar System
Solar System bodies can be studied using radio waves. Radio telescopes, for example, receive radio emissions from the Sun, which are closely linked to the cyclical activity of our star and crucial for space weather, as well as emissions from the planets.
Even the study of our own planet uses radio telescopes. By observing very distant celestial sources and using precise synchronization systems, the signals received from multiple antennas are combined to determine the Earth’s orientation, obtain information on our atmosphere, and even measure the movements of tectonic plates.
Finally, radio waves can be used actively, using radar systems that transmit to targets of interest and study the reflected signal: this can be done from space, to probe the subsurface of planets and satellites, but also from the ground, particularly to observe potentially dangerous asteroids (whose orbits are close to Earth’s) and determine whether there is a risk of impact.
(credits: Simona Righini)
The Institute of Radio Astronomy is involved in the following projects on the study of the Earth, the Sun and the solar system:
