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Range and Doppler data from Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 have been analyzed for purposes of measuring the effect of the sun's gravity field on S-band radio transmissions to the spacecraft. The prediction of general relativity, that the round-trip time delays between the station and the spacecraft will be increased by about 200 microsec near superior conjunction, has been verified with an uncertainty of 3 per cent or less. The dominant error source on the experiment is the stochastic nongravitational forces which act on the spacecraft and which limit the accuracy of the determination of the Mariner orbits. Effects of free coronal electrons on the round-trip propagation also make the measurement difficult, but the coronal contribution to the error is only about 1 per cent. Separate analyses of data from Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 yield two values near unity for the parameter gamma* which differ by about 0.3 per cent from each other. This and other considerations suggest that the error in the experiment is perhaps less than 3 per cent.

Results are reported for spectral-line very long baseline interferometric observations of the following II OH/IR objects, which emit strong 1612-MHz OH maser radiation concentrated at two velocities: NML Cyg, R Aql, IRC+10011, IRC-10529, and OH 1837-05. The apparent angular sizes were obtained for NML Cyg and R Aql, and lower limits upon the apparent sizes were obtained for the other objects. The data for NML Cyg agree with previous size determinations and indicate that the low- and high-velocity components are separated by about 20 times their apparent size. The maser component of R Aql is calculated within a factor of two to be about 5 by 10 to the 14th power cm, although the emitting region can be significantly larger. A qualitative description is given for II OH/IR objects with late M-type Mira variable center stars and circumstellar dust shells of similar dimensions.

We observed the radio emission of Callisto with a three-element interferometer at the time of the 1973 opposition of Jupiter. Special care was taken to remove the residual, unresolved contribution from Jupiter itself in the antenna side lobes. The resulting disk temperature at a wavelength of 3.71 centimeters, assuming a radius of 2500 + or - 75 kilometers for Callisto, was 101 + or - 25 K. This temperature is much more consistent with emission from a simple dielectric sphere than the considerably higher temperatures that have been reported for wavelengths of 3.5 and 8.2 millimeters.

Consideration of those aspects of the radio emission from the moon which are directly important in interpreting the emission observations. Thermophysical models of the moon can be constructed which explain the emission to the accuracy of the measurements. The variations during lunations of the radio brightness temperatures measured in the wavelength range from 1 mm to about 5 cm can be reproduced by homogeneous models with a thermal parameter in the range from 800 to 1200 cgs units, a dielectric constant about equal to 2, and a loss tangent of about 0.008.

Results from interferometric measurements of the apparent angular deflection of quasi-stellar object are examined. Some preliminary results from Mariner 6 and 7 experiments, particularly from the plasma effect viewpoint, are discussed, along with future experiments and plasma scintillation. Ray bending studies, plasma relativity separation for Mariner 6 and 7, and radio propagation test of general relativity are reviewed. First order approximations and time delay studies are appended, as well as Doppler velocity effect investigations.

The technique for obtaining range measurements is discussed. It involves measuring elapsed time between the transmission of an encoded signal from the ground station and its return from the spacecraft. The theoretical background for the Mariner Mars 1969 relativity test is presented, including computation of orbits and time transformation. Interplanetary and coronal plasma effects on range and Doppler observations at S-band are also considered. The general relativistic propagation delay was measured and a value of 0.997 for the relativity parameter Gamma star was obtained.

Least squares and sequential estimation techniques application to Mariner 6 and 7 tracking data analysis, verifying Einstein relativity theory on electromagnetic radiation propagation

General relativistic time delay of electromagnetic radiation propagation due to solar gravitational field measured from Mariner 6 and 7 range and Doppler data

Measurements of the microwave emission from the moon and their interpretation in terms of the thermophysics of that body are reviewed. Variations of the brightness temperatures of the moon during a lunation and during eclipses when combined with infrared and radar measurements yield a precise set of physical parameters for the upper few meters of the lunar soil. These parameters include the density, thermal conductivity, dielectric constant, radio absorption coefficients, and the mean temperature gradiant.

General relativistic time delay and moon-earth masses and Mars mass-ephemeris ratios from S-band range and Doppler tracking

Earth/moon mass ratio and Mars mass and ephemeris from Mariners range and Doppler tracking data, noting relativistic time delay measurement possibility

Venus atmosphere opacity law determination as function of wavelength, comparing interferometric and integrated brightness temperatures with model calculations for various atmospheric compositions

Surface dielectric constant and microwave opacity of Venus atmosphere as function of wavelength determined by radar observations

Surveyor data evaluation for electromagnetic properties of lunar surface materials

Lunar surface analyses at five Surveyor landing sites

Data from radar range and Doppler observations of Venus at inferior conjunction

Venus radius determination from ground based radar range data compared with Mariner 5 and Venera 4 observations and other radar measurements

Rock fragments and grain size of lunar soil at Surveyor 7 landing site

Radar reflectivity analysis and lunar magnetic materials studies based on Surveyor 7 data

Surveyor III radar data evaluation for electrical properties of lunar surface

Observations of Moon, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter - surface features and atmospheric characteristics - radio, radar, telescopic, and spectroscopic observations

Radar echo data on motion, rotation, and surface scattering properties of Venus

Muhleman radar scattering law indicates that surface of Mercury is similar to Moon in roughness

Radar astronomy investigations of Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury and Moon, discussing surface and rotational characteristics to establish astronomical unit

Radar determinations of astronomical unit, speed of light, solar parallax, and other constants

Electrical characteristics of atmosphere and surface of venus from radar observation

Orbit determination with large antennas

Saturn was observed with an interferometer at a wavelength of 21.1 cm in an effort to determine whether any of the emission at this wavelength originates from outside the area of the visible disk. The result, in terms of upper limits, is that no more than 6% can come from the visible rings nor more than 5% from a radiation belt, assuming certain brightness distribution models that are described. The latter limit implies that the volume emissivity of a hypothetical Saturn radiation belt has an upper limit of only about 1% of that for Jupiter in corresponding regions. The measured disk temperature is 232 plus or minus 18 K.

The disk temperature of Venus was measured at 608 MHz near the inferior conjunction of 1972, and a value of 498 plus or minus 33 K was obtained using a nominal CKL flux-density scale. The result is consistent with earlier measurements, but has a much smaller uncertainty. Our theoretical model prediction is larger by a factor of 1.21 plus or minus 0.09. This discrepancy has been noticed previously for frequencies below 1400 MHz, but was generally disregarded because of the large observational uncertainties. No way could be found to change the model to produce agreement without causing a conflict with well-established properties of Venus. Thus it is suggested that the flux-density scale may require an upward revision, at least near this frequency, in excess of what has previously been considered likely.

Expected microwave spectra of Mars are computed using an improved thermal model and accurate aspect geometry. It is found that when seasonal polar cap effects are included in the calculations, the observable spectrum of Mars is flat from 0.1-21 cm to within the accuracy of present data. The spectra obtained from this model are consistent with all the data and are obtainable from a relatively simple model (homogeneous, dry, smooth dielectric sphere). This result differs from that predicted by the analytical theory in common use which is in apparent conflict with the observed spectra. A range of electrical loss tangents, covering the extreme limits for likely dry particulate geological materials, is employed. The case of a lunar-like subsurface is completely consistent with all present data.