Arecibo Moon Radar Backscatter Images at 0.5-1.0 km Resolution

Backscatter image data of the Moon made with the Arecibo 70 cm radar in 1986 and 1987. The observations demonstrate a mapping resolution of 0.5 to 1.0 kilometers using short transmitter pulses and long integration times up to 8 minutes. Image pixel values are proportional to raw power in delay-Doppler sampling coordinates.

Use Cases

• Analyzing lunar surface roughness and texture based on radar backscatter values.
• Mapping geological features of the Moon at sub-kilometer resolution.
• Developing or validating radar signal processing algorithms for planetary science.
• Studying the radar scattering properties of planetary surfaces.

Strengths

• Data demonstrates a specific mapping resolution of 0.5 to 1.0 kilometers.
• Observations were made using long integration times up to 8 minutes, which can improve signal-to-noise ratio.
• Data originates from the authoritative Arecibo Observatory and NASA.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data is from 1986-1987; freshness should be verified for contemporary applications.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Observations made with the Arecibo 70 cm radar using short transmitter pulses and long integration times.

Time Range

1986 and 1987

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 07:55:00.687685; freshness should be verified

Geography

The Moon