Lightcurve for 7958 Leakey: A New Hungaria Binary
Abstract
Analysis of CCD photometric observations of the Hungaria asteroid 7958 Leakey made in 2012 reveals that the object is mostly likely a binary with a primary rotation period of 2.34843 ± 0.00006 h, A = 0.22 mag. The orbital period of the tidally-locked satellite is likely 50.29 ± 0.08 h, although it's possible that the period is 25.26 ± 0.04 h. The secondary lightcurve shows a bowing (amplitude) of about 0.05 mag, indicating that satellite has a projected a/b ratio of 2/1. Two possible mutual events (occultations/eclipses) were observed. From these, the estimated size ratio of the two bodies is Ds/Dp = 0.30 ± 0.03. Additional observations are needed to confirm these results.
- Publication:
-
Minor Planet Bulletin
- Pub Date:
- October 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012MPBu...39..240W