Kharkiv study of near-Earth asteroids

The regular CCD observations of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) in the Institute of Astronomy of Kharkiv National University were initiated in 1995 within the framework of asteroid hazard problem in collaboration with the DLR Planetary Institute in Berlin. The main aim of the study is a determination of rotation periods and shape estimation of NEAs as well as astrometry of newly discovered objects. We also carry out the absolute photometry of NEAs in BVRI bands in order to put constraints on asteroid type and to estimate their diameters. The observations are carried out with 0.7-m telescope of the Institute of Astronomy (Kharkiv) and with 1-m telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Simeiz) in the standard Johnson-Cousins photometric system. We present results of photometric observations of 20 NEAs obtained in 2004-2006 which let to estimate their rotation properties, phase coefficients, diameters and shapes. The ways how to increase outputs from NEAs photometry are discussed.