Gordon Pettengill Biography

Historical biography and chronological timeline for Gordon Pettengill, based on 8 World History Database records associated with United States of America.

8 records1961–19908 events4 places

Chronological biography

1961

Venus Radar1961

Science / Astronomy · Astronomer · Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Uses planetary radar to measure Venus more accurately.

1962

Mercury Radar1962

Science / Astronomy · Astronomer · Arecibo

Radar astronomy helps refine measurements of Mercury and Venus.

1965

Mercury Rotation1965

Science / Astronomy

Radar observations overturn the accepted 88-day rotation period and indicate that Mercury rotates in about 59 days.

1969

Planetary Radar1969

Science / Technology · Engineer · Arecibo

Planetary radar maps surfaces hidden by cloud and distance.

1978

Pioneer Venus Radar Mapping1978

Science / Astronomy · Venus

The Pioneer Venus Orbiter begins radar observations that reveal broad topographic features beneath Venus's clouds.

1979

Venus Topography1979

Science / Astronomy · Venus

Pioneer Venus radar data reveal major highland and lowland regions, including features later mapped in greater detail by Magellan.

1989

Magellan Radar Mapping4 May 1989

Science / Astronomy · Scientist · Cape Canaveral

Magellan launches to map Venus with synthetic aperture radar.

1990

Venus Radar Mapping10 August 1990

Science / Astronomy · Scientist · Venus

Magellan enters Venus orbit and begins radar mapping.

Titles and roles

Astronomer · Engineer · Scientist

Record provenance

This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.