Astronomy/radar question

Advertisement


Question
How do I figure out how long it takes a radar signal to complete a round trip between two planets that are 0.7 Au apart?

Answer
1 AU is equal to 93 million miles.

SO just figure out how many miles 0.7 AU are.

Now since radar signals travel at the speed of light...

The Sun is one AU from the Earth, so it takes 8 light minutes for its light to reach us.  So off the top of my head, it might take  6 minutes one way ?

Steve

Astronomy

All Answers


Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


Steven LJ Russo

Expertise

As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.

Experience

Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.