Investigation of asteroids in Pulkovo Observatory

Observational Astrometry Laboratory and Ephemeris Provision Sector of Pulkovo Observatory carry out a joint multipurpose research on asteroids belonging to various groups. Astrometric and photometric observations are done using ZA-320M and MTM-500M telescopes located at Pulkovo and in Northern Caucasus mountains, correspondingly. We obtain lightcurves that allow us to determine spin parameters and shapes of asteroids. Their color indices and taxonomy classes are derived from wideband filter observations. Improvement of asteroid orbits is achieved by doing positional measurements. Orbital evolution of asteroids is modelled, taking into account also non-gravity forces, including light pressure and Yarkovsky effect. NEAs, as well as binary asteroids, take an important place in our investigations. Quasi-satellites of Venus, Earth, and Mars are new targets of our research, one of the examples being 2012DA14 that approached Earth in early 2013; many MTM-500M observations of this asteroid were obtained around the date of approach.