The Minor Planet Bulletin BULLETIN OF THE MINOR PLANETS SECTION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF LUNAR AND PLANETARY OBSERVERS
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The Minor Planet Bulletin is the journal for almost all amateurs and even some professionals for publishing
asteroid photometry results, including lightcurves, H-G parameters, color indexes, and shape/spin axis models.
It is considered to be a refereed journal by the SAO/NASA ADS.
All MPB papers are indexed in the ADS.
Print subscriptions are no longer available to individuals. Institutions (e.g., college libraries) can still
obtain print copies via a special subscription. See details in MPB 37-4 or contact the editor, Richard Binzel.
Annual voluntary contributions of $5.00 or more in support of the publication are welcome.
Please send a check, drawn on a U.S. bank and payable in U.S. funds, to "Minor Planet Bulletin" and send it to:
Derald D. Nye
Minor Planet Bulletin
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Issues for the upcoming quarter-year are released on about the 21st of March, June, September, and December.
Full issues and individual papers from vol 1 (1973) to present are available via links on this page.
Important: If the ADS bibcode and "Download PDF" links are missing for the latest issue, it is because the ADS has
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Vol 1-7 run Jul-Jun. Vol 8-present run Jan-Dec. Only papers indexed in the ADS are included.
Earlier volumes often contain more papers than listed here. It's recommended to download the
full issue in vol 1-9.
Lightcurve Analysis for Two Near-Earth Asteroids Eclipsed by the Earth's Shadow
Pages 215-219 Birtwhistle, Peter
Photometry was obtained from Great Shefford Observatory of near-Earth asteroids 2012 XE54 in 2012 and 2016 VA in 2016 during close approaches. A superfast rotation period has been determined for 2012 XE54 and H-G magnitude system coefficients have been estimated for 2016 VA. While under observation, 2012 XE54 underwent a deep penumbral eclipse by the Earth’s shadow and 2016 VA also experienced a total eclipse by the Earth’s shadow. The dimming due to the eclipses is modeled taking into account solar limb darkening.
Lightcurve Analysis for Near-Earth Asteroid 2012 TC4
Pages 220-221 Tan, Hanjie; Gao, Xing
Lightcurves of near-Earth asteroid (NEA) 2012 TC4 were obtained at the Xingming Observatory (Code C42) on 2017 Oct.11. The absolute magnitude of the asteroid, H = 26.7, corresponds to a diameter of ~13 m. Analysis of the observations shows a bimodal solution with a synodic rotation period of 0.2040 ± 0.0003 h and lightcurve amplitude of 0.93 mag.
Rotational Period Determination for 12 Near-Earth Asteroids
Rotational periods for 12 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) were determined from lightcurves acquired at the Observatório Astronômico do Sertão de Itaparica (MPC Y28, OASI) between May 2016 and 2017 August.
Rotation Period for the Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2018 AM12
Pages 225 Schwab, Erwin; Koschny, Detlef; Micheli, Marco
The potentially hazardous asteroid 2018 AM12 was observed on 2018 January 16. The synodic period was found to be 0.2106 ±0.0013 h.
Rotational Period Determination of 16852 Nuredduna
Pages 226 Tomassini, Angelo; Scardella, Mauizio; Franceshini, Francesco
The main-belt asteroid (16852) Nuredduna, was observed between October and December 2017. The synodic period is 6.3 ± 0.1 h.
Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis of Data from Dusty Files
Pages 227-231 Owings, Larry E.
Lightcurves for 14 main-belt asteroids were obtained at the Barnes Ridge Observatory from 2013 October through 2017 November. Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are found for 9 of the 14 main-belt asteroids. The nine are 2381 Landi: 3.98595 h, 0.86 mag; 2884 Reddish: 14.310 h, 0.90 mag; 4067 Mikhel'son: 2.24620 h, 0.15 mag; 4517 Ralpharvey: 3.60065 h, 0.31 mag; 5613 Eizaburo: 2.87538 h. 0.35 mag; 5976 Kalatajean: 4.55362 h 0.59 mag; 14309 Defoy: 3.3940 h, 0.17 mag; (18017) 1999 JC124: 3.0300 h, 0.18 mag; (31775) 1999 JN122: 4.3186 h, 0.10 mag. Of the remaining five asteroids 4336 Jasnicwicz has a possible period of 10 h; (6045) 1991 RG9 has a possible period of 12.3 h and periods of 2736 Ops, 2902 Westerlund and (12721) 1991 PB could not be calculated.
Rotational Period Determination for Asteroid 5798 Burnett
Pages 231-232 Pennington, Olin O.; Odden, Caroline E.
Photometric observations for the main-belt asteroid 5798 Burnett were taken from 2017 September 9 to 2017 October 13, totaling 267 images. The rotational period was determined as 7.482 ± 0.001 h.
Lightcurves for Asteroids 2022 West and 18301 Konyukhov
Pages 233-234 Haro-Corzo, Sinhue A. R.; Villegas, Luis A.; Olguin, Lorenzo; Saucedo, Julio C.; Contreras, Maria E.; Sada, Pedro V.; Ayala, Sandra A.; Garza, Jaime R.; Segura-Sosa, Juan; Benitez-Benitez, Claudia P.
We report photometric analysis of two main-belt asteroids observed at the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional in the Sierra San Pedro Martir, Baja California, México. For 18301 Konyukhov, our derived intrinsic rotation period is 2.6667 ± 0.0003 h with an amplitude of 0.16 mag. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first lightcurve reported for this asteroid. In the case of 2022 West, our derived intrinsic rotation period is 14.1385 ± 0.0031 h with an amplitude of 0.54 mag.
Asteroid Photometry form the Preston Gott Observatory
Pages 235-236 Clark, Maurice
Asteroid rotation period and amplitude results obtained at the Preston Gott Observatory during 2017 November are reported.
Near-Earth Asteroid (297418) 2000 SP43: Lightcurve and Color Photometry
Pages 237-238 Hergenrother, Carl W.
Photometry of the Aten near-Earth asteroid (297418) 2000 SP43 was obtained on three nights in 2011 October with the University of Arizona Kuiper 1.54-m telescope. Lightcurve analysis yielded a rotation period of 6.314 ± 0.009 h and amplitude of 0.98 magnitudes. Broadband filter photometry found the following colors: B-V = +0.80, V-R = +0.50 and V-I = +0.85. These colors are consistent with an S-type taxonomy and agree with the results published in Hicks et al. (2011).
Lightcurve Analysis and Rotation Period for 6838 Okuda
Pages 238-239 Noschese, Alfonso; Vecchione, Antonio
From 2018 January 24 to 2018 Feb 16, CCD images were taken with the aim to measure the rotation period of 6838 Okuda. The data analysis gives a best fit lightcurve period of 11.0537 ± 0.0012 hours. We note that other period solutions may be possible.
Lightcurve Analysis of Minor Planets 1132 Hollandia, 1184 Gaea, 1322 Coppernicius, 1551 Argelander, and 3230 Vampilov
Pages 240-241 Fauerbach, Michael; Brown, Austin
Photometric observations of 5 main-belt asteroids were obtained during three nights from 2017 July 24 to 2017 August 6, using the SARA-South telescope located at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.
Rotation Determination for 460 Scania
Pages 242 Pilcher, Frederick; Benishek, Vladimir
A 142 day photometric campaign on minor planet 460 Scania 2017 Oct. 15 – 2018 March 6 reveals a synodic rotation period of 164.1 ± 0.1 hours, amplitude 0.37 ± 0.03 magnitudes. A search with simultaneous dual period software found no evidence of tumbling above 0.1 magnitudes.
Lightcurve Analysis of 216 Kleopatra
Pages 243 Novak, Robert; Alton, Kevin B.
CCD images (Ic filter) of the asteroid 216 Kleopatra were obtained over four sessions from 2017 August to September. A folded lightcurve was produced and the synodic period, P = 5.3856 h, was calculated.
Pages 244-245 Brincat, Stephen M.; Galdies, Charles
Lightcurves for three mid-belt asteroids were obtained from Flarestar Observatory (MPC171) and Znith Observatory in 2017 and 2018. These asteroids were selected from the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL) website. No reported observations were available to deduce their rotation periods prior to this research.
Rotation Period Determinations for 50 Virginia, 142 Polana, and 597 Bandusia
Pages 246-247 Pilcher, Frederick
Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are reported for 50 Virginia 14.318 ± 0.002 hours, 0.09 ± 0.01 magnitudes; 142 Polana 9.762 ± 0.002 hours, 0.17 ± 0.01 magnitudes; 597 Bandusia 7.6643 ± 0.0001 hours, 0.38 ± 0.02 magnitudes. The rotational spin vector of 597 Bandusia may be within 20 degrees of celestial longitude 30 degrees or 210 degrees, celestial latitude 0 degrees.
Near-Earth Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at CS3-Palmer Divide Station: 2018 January-April
Pages 248-256 Warner, Brian D.
Lightcurves for 28 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies-Palmer Divide Station (CS3-PDS) from 2018 January-April were analyzed for rotation period and signs of satellites or tumbling. In addition, re-examination of data for 2014 UR taken in 2014 shows that the rotation period is 0.2300 h and not the 2.37 h that was originally reported.
Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at CS3-Palmer Divide Station: 2018 January-April
Pages 256-259 Warner, Brian D.
Lightcurves for six main-belt asteroids were obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies-Palmer Divide Station (CS3-PDS) from 2018 January-April. Two of the asteroids were targets of opportunity, i.e., in the field of planned targets, which demonstrates a good reason for data mining images.
2018 AJ: A Tumbling Near-Earth Asteroid
Pages 259-262 Warner, Brian D.; Pravec, P.
CCD photometric observations of the near-Earth asteroid 2018 AJ were made during its close approach (4.7 lunar distances) to Earth in 2018 January. Analysis of data obtained over three nights shows that the asteroid is in a state of non-principal axis rotation (NPAR, “tumbling”) with possible periods of 0.6722 ± 0.0006 h and 0.986 ± 0.002 h. The lightcurve observations alone could not determine which period is that of rotation and the other of precession nor whether or not the corresponding rotation frequencies are the actual or a linear combination of the true values.
Lightcurve Analysis of Hilda Asteroids at the Center for Solar System Studies: 2018 January-April
Pages 262-265 Warner, Brian D.; Stephens, Robert D.
Lightcurves for five Hilda asteroids were obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies (CS3) from 2018 January-February: 361 Bononia, 1902 Shaposhnikov, 3415 Danby, (20038) 1992 UN5, and (20628) 1999 TS40.
Lightcurve and Synodic Rotation Period of the Near-Earth Asteroid (475967) 2007 JF22
Pages 266-267 Benishek, Vladimir; Warner, Brian D.
CCD photometric observations of near-Earth asteroid (475967) 2007 JF22 were made by the authors in 2018 March and April. Analysis of the data found a bimodal lightcurve with a period of P = 25.60 ± 0.01 h and amplitude A = 1.19 ± 0.05 mag.
New Lightcurve and Rotation Period Determination for 1884 Skip
Pages 267-268 Benishek, Vladimir; Rowe, Basil
CCD photometric observations of near-Earth asteroid (475967) 2007 JF22 were made by the authors in 2018 March and April. Analysis of the data found a bimodal lightcurve with a period of P = 25.60 ± 0.01 h and amplitude A = 1.19 ± 0.05 mag.
Lightcurve Analysis for Eleven Main-belt Asteroids
Pages 269-273 Polakis, Tom
Synodic rotation periods were determined for eleven main-belt asteroids: 494 Virtus, 49.427 ± 0.022 h; 613 Ginevra, 12.906 ± 0.009 h; 645 Agrippina, 54.130 ± 0.033 h; 777 Gutemberga, 12.838 ± 0.006 h; 783 Nora, 55.53 ± 0.08 h; 927 Ratisbona, 12.986 ± 0.003 h; 1031 Arctica, 24.904 ± 0.016 h; 1587 Kahrstedt, 7.971 ± 0.001 h; 4528 Berg, 3.5626 ± 0.0004 h; 4628 Laplace, 9.016 ± 0.003 h; and 7430 Kogure, 335.9 ± 0.8 h. All the data have been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
Lightcurves for 1318 Nerina, 1342 Brabantia, 1981 Midas, and 3951 Zichichi
Photometric observations of four main-belt asteroids were made in order to acquire lightcurves for shape/spin axis models. For 1318 Nerina, the synodic rotation period is 2.5277 ± 0.0001 h, amplitude 0.06 mag. For 1342 Brabantia, the synodic rotation period is 4.1751 ± 0.0001 h, amplitude 0.18 mag. For 1981 Midas, the synodic rotation period is 5.20 ± 0.01 h, amplitude 0.93 mag. For 3951 Zichichi, the synodic rotation period is 3.3953 ± 0.0004 h, amplitude 0.25 mag.
Rotation Period Determination for 2079 Jacchina and 3394 Banno
Photometric observations of two main-belt asteroids were conducted from the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Siena (Italy) in order to determine their synodic rotation periods. For 2079 Jacchia we found a period of 5.941 ± 0.001 h with an amplitude of 0.64 ± 0.02 mag, for 3394 Banno we found a period of 7.324 ± 0.001 h with an amplitude of 0.22 ± 0.02 mag.
Lightcurve Analysis and Rotation Period Determination for Asteroids 1491 Balduinus and 2603 Taylor
Pages 278-279 Odden, Caroline E.; Cohen, Adam J.; Davis, Spencer; Eldracher, Emelie A.; Fitzgerald, Zachary T.; Jiang, Derek C.; Kozol, Eliana L.; Laurencin, Victoria L.; Meyer-Idzik, Benjamin D.; Pennington, Oliver; Philip, Reuben C.; Sanchez, Emily J.; Warren, Natalie J.; Klinglesmith, Daniel A.; Briggs, John W.
Photometric observations of asteroids 1491 Balduinus and 2603 Taylor were made from 2017 December to 2018 February. 1491 Balduinus was found to have a rotational period 15.315 ± 0.003 h with amplitude 0.40 mag; 2603 Taylor was found to have rotational period 3.905 ± 0.001 h with amplitude 0.27 mag.
General Report of Position Observations by the ALPO Minor Planets Section for the Year 2017
Pages 280-287 Pilcher, Frederick
Observations of positions of minor planets by members of the Minor Planets Section in calendar year 2017 are summarized.
A Photometric Study of 437 Rhodia
Pages 287-289 Pilcher, Frederick; Polakis, Tom
Based on nearly four months of observations, we find for 437 Rhodia a synodic rotation period of 433.2 ± 0.5 hours, amplitude 0.35 ± 0.05 magnitudes, and color index V-R = 0.46. We calculate H = 10.710 ± 0.037 and G = 0.416 ± 0.053 at mid-light in the V photometric system. Tumbling is confirmed, but the second tumbling period could not be found. Applying H and G from this study to parameters from the IRAS study yields albedo pV = 0.526, diameter D = 13.12 km; and to parameters from the NEOWISE satellite data, pV = 0.440, D = 14.46 km.
Lightcurve and Rotation Period Determination for (13124) 1994 PS, (26571) 2000 EN84, and (29934) 1999 JL46
Photometric observations of the main-belt asteroids (13124) 1994 PS, (26571) 2000 EN84, and (29934) 1999 JL46 were made from 2018 Jan 23 to Mar 9. Analysis determined the synodic rotational periods for (13124) 1994 PS, 8.147 ± 0.003 h; (26571) 2000 EN84, 4.105 ± 0.003 h; and (29934) 1999 JL46, 5.841 ± 0.001 h as the most likely solutions.
Lightcurve Analysis of 6 Asteroids from RMS Observatory
Pages 292-294 Rowe, Basil
CCD images of 6 asteroids were taken from 2017 November 20 to 2018 March 26 for the purpose of determining their synodic rotation periods. The asteroids were: 3233 Krisbarons, 11546 Miyoshimachi, (19472) 1998 HL52, (418849) 2008 WM64, 1999 AF4, and 2017 QL33.
10132 Lummelunda: A New Biary Asteroid System
Pages 295-297 Benishek, Vladimir; Pilcher, Frederick; Pravec, Petr; Kusnirak, Peter; Kucakova, Hana; Pray, Donald P.; Durkee, Russell I.; Aznar Macias, Amadeo; Aceituno, Franciso J.
CCD photometric observations carried out at several observatories over a wide range of longitudes in 2017 August-September revealed that the main-belt asteroid 10132 Lummelunda is a binary asteroid system with a primary rotational period of 2.5099 ± 0.0001 h and a secondary orbital period of 22.44 ± 0.01 h.
4435 Holt: A Newly Discovered Singly-Asynchronous Binary
Pages 297-299 Stephens, Robert D.; Pray, Donald; Benishek, Vladimir; Pravec, Petr; Warner, Brian D.
We report that asteroid 4435 Holt is a singly-asynchronous binary asteroid. The primary lightcurve has a primary period of 2.8670 ± 0.0002 h and an amplitude 0.15 to 0.30 mag. with a secondary orbital period of 42.65 ± 0.05 h.
Asteroids Observed from CS3: 2018 January - March
Pages 299-301 Stephens, Robert D.
CCD photometric observations of 6 main-belt asteroids were obtained from the Center for Solar System Studies from 2018 January to March.
Lightcurve Analysis of L5 Trojan Asteroids at the Center for Solar System Studies: 2018 January to March
Pages 301-304 Stephens, Robert D.; Warner, Brian D.
Lightcurves for six Jovian Trojan asteroids were obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies (CS3) from 2018 January to March.
Photometric Observations of Main-belt asteroids 1637 Swings, 10498 Bobgent, and (25980) 2001 FK 53
Pages 304-309 Warner, Brian D.; Harris, Alan W.; Durech, Josef; Benner, Lance A.M.
We present lists of asteroid photometry opportunities for objects reaching a favorable apparition and having either none or poorly-defined lightcurve parameters. Additional data on these objects will help with shape and spin axis modeling via lightcurve inversion. We also include lists of objects that will be the target of radar observations. Lightcurves for these objects can help constrain pole solutions and/or remove rotation period ambiguities that might not come from using radar data alone.
In This Issue
Pages 309-310 Warner, Brian D.
This list gives those asteroids in this issue for which physical observations (excluding astrometric only) were made. This includes lightcurves, color index, and H-G determinations, etc. In some cases, no specific results are reported due to a lack of or poor quality data. The page number is for the first page of the paper mentioning the asteroid. EP is the "go to page" value in the electronic version.
