Lightcurve Analysis of 279 Thule
Abstract
A campaign involving asteroid observers from the US, Australia, and New Zealand was established to determine the rotation period of the outer main-belt asteroid, 279 Thule. Several conflicting periods had been reported as well as the possibility of the object being binary. Neither this campaign nor one conducted in 2008 by Pravec et al. found evidence of a satellite. We find a period of 15.962 ± 0.003 h. While there is good confidence in the result, despite it contradicting all previous periods, the matter of the asteroid's true rotation period may still be open.
- Publication:
-
Minor Planet Bulletin
- Pub Date:
- October 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010MPBu...37..168W