Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Palmer Divide Observatory: 2011 December - 2012 March
Abstract
Lightcurves for 41 asteroids were obtained at the Palmer Divide Observatory (PDO) from 2011 December to 2012 March: 77 Frigga, 2933 Amber, 3352 McAuliffe, 3483 Svetlov, 4031 Mueller, 5378 Ellyett, 5579 Uhlherr, 5771 Somerville, 6087 Lupo, 6602 Gilclark, (6618) 1936 SO, 6635 Zuber, (8404) 1995 AN, (9873) 1992 GH, (11058) 1991 PN10, (16421) 1988 BJ, (16426) 1988 EC, (16585) 1992 QR, 16589 Hastrup, 18368 Flandrau, (19537) 1999 JL8, (23974) 1999 CK12, (24465) 2000 SX155, (26383) 1999 MA2, (30856) 1991 XE, (39618) 1994 LT, (45898) 2000 XQ49, (47983) 2000 XX13, (49566) 1999 CM106, (49678) 1999 TQ7, (50991) 2000 GK94, (57739) 2001 UF162, (63260) 2001 CN, (69350) 1993 YP, 79316 Huangshan, (82066) 2000 XG15, (82078) 2001 AH46, (105155) 2000 NG26, (141018) 2001 WC47, (256700) 2008 AG3, (320125) 2007 EQ185. Two asteroids showed indications of being binary. Analysis of the data for near-Earth asteroid, 3352 McAuliffe showed a second period of 20.86 h but no obvious mutual events (occultations and/or eclipses). The Hungaria asteroid, (24465) 2000 SX15, displayed similar characteristics. Furthermore, the primary (or only) period of 3.256 h cannot be reconciled with analysis from previous apparitions. Three asteroids showed signs of being in non-principal axis rotation (NPAR, "tumbling"). New values for absolute magnitude (H) were found for several Hungaria asteroids using either derived or assumed values of G. These new values were compared against those used in the WISE mission to determine diameters and albedos. In all cases where the WISE results featured an unusually high albedo for the asteroid in question, the new value of H resulted in an albedo that was significantly lower and closer to the expected value for type E asteroids, which are the likely members of the Hungaria collisional family.
- Publication:
-
Minor Planet Bulletin
- Pub Date:
- July 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012MPBu...39..158W