Coordinated Observations of Asteroids by Pine Mountain and Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatories
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Date
2021
Authors
Tamai, Nobuyuki
Monsrud, Riley
Itoh, Masayuki
Imamura, James
Fisher, Scott
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Coordinated broadband photometric measurements of the asteroid 665 Sabine were obtained in August 2020 from both Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory (NHAO) and Pine Mountain Observatory (PMO) using a 0.6 meter telescope (NHAO) and the 0.35m Robbins telescope at PMO. 665 Sabine has a rotational period of 4.294 hours, semi-major axis of 3.14 AU, and diameter of ~51km. In total, these observations produced 180 images from PMO, and 280 images from NHAO. These 460 images of the target were then analyzed to produce a “lightcurve” of the asteroid, where photometric estimates of the asteroid’s brightness over time are plotted in order to extract the rotation period as well as the shape of the target. At any location, 665 Sabine cannot be tracked for more than two rotations. Continuous observation of rotating asteroids over several rotation cycles is necessary for determination of basic asteroid properties - such as the shape, surface properties, and rotation period. To obtain continuous coverage of an asteroid for more than two rotation cycles, multiple observing sites (separated by ~6 h in longitude) are needed. As a collaboration, NHAO and PMO work together to obtain data on asteroids that span several rotation periods. NHAO is operated by the University of Hyogo and located in Sayo, Japan. PMO is operated by the University of Oregon and located near Bend, Oregon.
Description
1 page.
Keywords
Asteroid, International collaboration, 3d model, Astronomy, Physics