1937 UB (Hermes)
Abstract
P. Pravec and P. Kusnirak, Ondrejov Observatory; B. Warner, Colorado Springs, CO, U.S.A.; R. Behrend, Geneva Observatory; A. W. Harris, Space Science Institute; A. Oksanen, Jyvaskyla, Finland; D. Higgins, Canberra, Australia; R. Roy, Blauvac, France; C. Rinner, Ottmarsheim, France; C. Demeautis, Village-Neuf, France; F. van den Abbeel, Vesqueville, Belgium; A. Klotz, Guitalens, France; N. Waelchli, Observatoire Francois-Xavier Bagnoud, St-Luc, Switzerland; T. Alderweireldt, 's-Gravenwezel, Belgium; V. Cotrez, St-Helene, France; and L. Brunetto, Pitalugue, France, report that their photometric observations obtained during Oct. 16-26 show a light- curve period for Hermes of 13.892 +/- 0.006 hr with amplitude 0.07 +/- 0.01 mag. A smooth shape of the lightcurve with only a single confirmed periodicity suggests that it is most likely the combined rotational lightcurve of two bodies synchronously locked to the orbital period (cf. IAUC 8227). The low amplitude implies that the two components seen by radar are physically separate orbiting bodies. No attenuations caused by mutual occultation/eclipse events were detected, implying that the mutual orbital plane was inclined to both the line of sight and the direction to the sun, or much less likely, that the orbital period is different from the detected rotation period. Continued monitoring for mutual occultations, as the viewing geometry changes, is warranted. The system's total absolute magnitude is H = 17.55 +/- 0.10.
- Publication:
-
International Astronomical Union Circular
- Pub Date:
- October 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003IAUC.8233....3P