Radar detection of Asteroid 2002 AA29

Radar echoes from Earth co-orbital Asteroid 2002 AA29 yield a total-power radar cross section of 2.9×10−5 km2 ±25%, a circular polarization ratio of SC/OC=0.26±0.07, and an echo bandwidth of at least 1.5 Hz. Combining these results with the estimate of its visual absolute magnitude, HV=25.23±0.24, from reported Spacewatch photometry indicates an effective diameter of 25±5 m, a rotation period no longer than 33 min, and an average surface bulk density no larger than 2.0 g cm−3; the asteroid is radar dark and optically bright, and its statistically most likely spectral class is S. The HV estimate from LINEAR photometry (23.58±0.38) is not compatible with either Spacewatchʹs HV or our radar results. If a bias this large were generally present in LINEARʹs estimates of HV for asteroids it has discovered or observed, then estimates of the current completeness of the Spaceguard Survey would have to be revised downward.