Characterization of Asteroid 93 Minerva Searching for Variation of the Light Curve to Determine Physical Attributes
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Authors
Ringsdorf, Nicole
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Abstract
In 1967 Pine Mountain Observatory (PMO) made its first observations of astronomical objects that included everything from nearby planets and asteroids to distant nebulae and galaxies. In 2018, PMO continues to make research-grade observations of various kinds of celestial targets. In this poster we present the results of broadband optical photometry of the asteroid 93 Minerva obtained using the 0.36 m Robbins telescope on September 5, 2018 (UTC). On this night the target asteroid was continuously observed for roughly 2.5 hours to measure variations in its light curve. The shape and magnitude of the changes in the light curve can be used to determine physical characteristics of 93 Minerva including rotation period and three-dimensional shape. Photometry of 93 Minerva, as well as calibration stars, was performed using the Aperture Photometry Tool (v.2.7.5). Although there were nonoptimal observing conditions, our obtained light curve closely matches previously published 93 Minerva data. The data are a successful proof-of-concept of our ability to perform accurate photometry of moderately faint objects at PMO. With this successful test, we will soon start an asteroid monitoring program at PMO. In conjunction with our colleagues at Kobe University in Japan, we will collect multiple-epoch, short-cadence photometry on several asteroids to construct light curves and map their three-dimensional features.
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Single page poster
Keywords
Astrophysics, Astronomy, Minerva 93, Photometry, Asteroids, Pine Mountain Observatory, Astronomical objects, Light curve, Three-dimensional