Radar astronomy

Summary Radar Astronomy is a new and growing branch of Astronomy. Although it seems that radio echo studies must be confined to the solar system, they can play an important part in developing our understanding of the Sun and the planets. At the present time these objects are barely detectable by radar techniques and much of the work has been concerned only with the moon. However it seems likely that within a decade we shall be able to measure the distances of the nearer planets and study their surfaces by this astronomical technique. This paper outlines what has already been achieved in the study of the moon and indicates some of the possible future results.