Goldstone Solar System Radar, Radio telescope in Mojave Desert, California, US
Goldstone Solar System Radar is an observation facility in the Mojave Desert equipped with a 70-meter antenna and a powerful X-band transmitter. The system sends radio waves toward distant objects in space and receives their reflections to gather precise data about planets, moons, and asteroids.
The facility was built in 1958 and initially supported the Pioneer space program with critical data during missions. In 1985 it received National Historic Landmark status to recognize its importance to space exploration.
The radar installation has influenced scientific research by enabling detailed observations of Mercury, Venus, Mars, asteroids, and moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
The site sits in the desert at about 3,000 feet elevation, where the dry climate and remoteness provide ideal conditions for sensitive observations. Visitors should prepare for heat and limited shade and follow safety rules since it is an active research facility.
The radar revealed through its measurements that Mercury has a liquid core, a major discovery made from remote sensing data. This ability to penetrate distant celestial objects in such detail makes the system an exceptional scientific tool.
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