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.
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See the announcement in Minor Planet Bulletin51-2.
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Smith, J.J.; Jones, A.A. (2019).
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Minor Planets at Unusually Favorable Elongations in 2025
Pages 1-3 Pilcher, Frederick
A list is presented of minor planets which are much brighter than usual at their 2025 apparitions. For reasons explained, the list in this article is the final installment of a 52-year sequence prepared by the author.
Lightcurve and Rotation Period of 1367 Nongoma
Pages 4-5 Stephen M. Brincat, Stephen M.; Bucek, Marek; Richmond, Michael; Rivard, Normand; Galdies, Charles; Mifsud, Martin; Grech, Winston
During the 2024 opposition of 1367 Nongoma, an international team of observers worked to improve the asteroid’s lightcurve quality. They determined that 1367 Nongoma has a synodic rotation period of 133.485 ± 0.026 h, with an amplitude of 0.65 ± 0.05 mag.
Period of the Flat-Topped Lightcurve of 1510 Charlois
Pages 6-7 Romanishin, W.
here are three quite different period determinations listed in the latest lightcurve database for 1510 Charlois. One lightcurve shows intriguing broad flat maxima. The author has observed Charlois and derived P = 5.867 ± 0.005 h as the reliable period, which matches one of those previously reported.
13441 Janmerlin, an Asteroid with an Earth Commensurate Rotation Period
Photometric observations from two different longitudes of the asteroid 13441 Janmerlin were conducted in order to obtain its synodic rotation period, which resulted close to that of Earth. In fact, we obtained P = 23.087 ± 0.002 h with an amplitude A = 0.50 ± 0.03 mag.
Lightcurve and Rotation Period Analysis of (1685) Toro
Pages 8-9 Xiong, Jiarui; Lu, Yue; Guo, Chenyang
Ten sets of photometric observations of the near-Earth asteroid 1685 Toro were obtained between 2024 January 26 and February 26. Using Tycho Tracker software, we plotted the lightcurve of 1685 Toro and measured its rotation period to be 10.1774 ± 0.012 h with a lightcurve amplitude of 0.51 ± 0.05 mag.
Unfiltered CCD photometric observations of 4222 Nancita were obtained in Hebei, China from Dec 2023 to Jan 2024. We report a synodic rotation period of 3.8743 ± 0.0001 hours and an amplitude of 0.800 ± 0.042 magnitudes.
Rotation Period Determination for Asteroid 2024 MK
Pages 11 Sioulas, Nick
Photometric observations of the near-Earth asteroid 2024 MK were conducted from the NOAK Observatory, in Greece to determine its rotation period. Multiple tumbling periods are found: P = 0.730 ± 0.003 h, A = 1.48 mag and P = 0.664 ± 0.003 h, A = 1.38 ± 0.02 mag.
Lightcurve and Rotation Period Analysis of 1908 Pobeda, 2168 Swope, and 5203 Pavarotti
Pages 12-14 Hawley, Wayne; Wiggins, Patrick; Armstrong, James D.; Leyland, Paul C.; DeGroff, Kent; Arnold, Steven; Odeh, Mohammad Shawkat; Haymes,
Tim; Kardasis, Emmanuel; Takoudi, Alexia; Privett, Grant; Genebriera, Joan
Photometric observations were made of asteroids 1908 Pobeda, 2168 Swope, and 5203 Pavarotti. From these, we determined the synodic rotation period and lightcurve amplitudes for each asteroid.
Collaborative Asteroid Photometry from UAI: 2024 July-September
Photometric observations of four asteroids were made in order to acquire lightcurves for shape/spin axis modeling. Lightcurves were acquired for 1394 Algoa, 8577 Choseikomori, 21088 Chelyabinsk, and (66251) 1999 GJ2.
Lightcurve and Rotation Period Analysis for Four Minor Planets
Pages 17-18 Wiles, Mike
Photometric measurements of CCD observations on four main-belt asteroids were made from 2024 September through 2024 October. Phased lightcurves were created for each one. All the data have been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
Lightcurves and Rotation Periods of 209 Dido, 268 Adorea, 2732 Witt, and 2836 Sobolev, with a Note on 1402 Eri
Pages 19-20 Pilcher, Frederick
Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are found for 209 Dido 5.7356 ± 0.0001 hours, 0.11 ± 0.01 magnitudes; 268 Adorea 7.7982 ± 0.0002 hours, 0.11 ± 0.01 magnitudes; 2732 Witt 12.6244 ± 0.0003 hours, 0.55 ± 0.03 magnitudes; and 2836 Sobolev 4.7548 ± 0.0001 hours, amplitude 0.75 ± 0.05 magnitudes. A 4-hour lightcurve of 1402 Eri showed no perceptible variation.
Asteroid Photometry: Lightcurve Results for Six Targets
Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are reported for: 494 Virtus, 866 Fatme, 1075 Helina, 1279 Uganda, 1424 Sundmania, 1593 Fagnes, (5977) 1992 TH1, (58143) 1983 VD7.
Photometric Observations and Analysis of Seven Asteroids
Pages 24-26 Galdies, Charles; Brincat, Stephen M.; Bucek, Marek
We report the results of our photometric observations of seven main-belt asteroids from three observatories in Malta, and Slovakia. We obtained the lightcurves for the following asteroids, which can facilitate future analysis at different oppositions: (4798) Mercator; (4958) Wellnitz; (13042) 1990 QE; (15127) 2000 EN45; (16591) 1999 SY17; (28746) 2000 GB148; and (108522) 2001 LQ.
Lightcurves of Eight Asteroids
Pages 27-31 Dose, E. V.
We present lightcurves and synodic rotation periods for eight asteroids including the family parent asteroid (1128) Astrid.
Analysis and Lightcurves of Eleven Asteroids
Pages 31-34 Farfán, Rafael González; de la Cuesta, Faustino García; Lorenz, Esteban Reina; Albá, Carlos Botana; De Elías Cantalapiedra, Javier; Fernández, Javier Ruiz; Pinilla, Felipe Gómez; Saura, Arturo Martín; Andújar, José M. Fernández
The analysis, observation, and results of the lightcurves of the eleven asteroids presented here were mostly performed during the months of 2024 March to July, while the others were observed in 2021 and 2023. In some cases, we obtained rotation periods somewhat different from those previously published. For others, we could not find a period in the literature. The eleven asteroids studied and the derived rotation periods were: 236 Honoria (12.339 h), 606 Brangane (12.294 h), 737 Arequipa (14.067 h), 1509 Esclangona (3.252 h), 2383 Bradley (5.870 h), 4897 Tomhamilton (18.213 h), 5515 Naderi (5.230 h), 6012 Williammurdoch (2.891 h), 6859 Datemasamune (8.905 h), 7304 Namiki (8.873 h), and 8648 Salix (30.267 h).
Analysis and Review of Rotation Curves and Periods of 12 Asteroids
Pages 35-37 Farfán, Rafael González; de la Cuesta, Faustino García; Lorenz, Esteban Reina; Albá, Carlos Botana; De Elías Cantalapiedra, Javier; Fernández, Javier Ruiz; Martínez, Fernando Limón; Pinilla, Felipe Gómez; Andújar, José M. Fernández
The twelve asteroids presented here were observed from 2024 May to September. Analysis of the resulting data lead to generating lightcurves, finding rotation periods, and drawing some conclusions from the results. The asteroids studied and the derived periods are: 114 Kassandra (10.734 h), 901 Brunsia (3.136 h), 924 Toni (19.436 h), 1065 Amundsenia (7.758 h), 2168 Swope (7.354 h), 2555 Thomas (2.858 h), 2801 Huygens (4.378 h), 2994 Flynn (9.750 h), 3735 Trebon (8.472 h), 5749 Urduja (2.813 h), 21088 Chelyabinsk (11.272 h), and (66251) 1999 GJ2 (2.463 h). In some cases, the results were almost identical to those previously published but there were several for which we found no previously reported lightcurves or periods.
Lightcurve Analysis for Thirteen Main-Belt and Three Near Earth Asteroids
Photometric observations for thirteen main-belt, and three near-Earth asteroids. We derived synodic periods for 838 Seraphina, 1762 Rusell, 2047 Smetana, 2383 Bradley, 2692 Chkalov, 3895 Earhart, (23512) 1992 PC3, (23880) Tongil, (25330) 1999 KV4, (31545) 1999 DN6, (32459) 2000 SK87, (39489) 1981 EU6, (42449) 3496 T-3, (84833) 2003 AF9, (96720) 1999 LP, (352143) 1999 LP. In addition, we found sidereal periods for 838 Seraphina, 1762 Rusell, 2047 Smetana, 2383 Bradley, 2692 Chkalov, and 3895 Earhart.
Photometry of 24 Asteroids from Sopot Astronomical Observatory: 2024 March - October
Pages 45-50 Benishek, Vladimir
Lightcurves and synodic rotation periods for 24 asteroids are derived from photometric data obtained at Sopot Astronomical Observatory during 2024 March - October.
Lightcurves of Twenty-two Asteroids
Pages 51-58 Stone, Geoffrey
We present lightcurves and synodic rotation periods for twenty-two asteroids.
A New Satellite of (172376) 2002 YE25 Detected by Stellar Occultation
Pages 58-59 Gault, D.; Nosworthy, Peter; Herald, Dave
Two observers in Australia, at two separate sites, observed (172376) 2002 YE25 occult TYC 6854-1090, an 11th magnitude star, on 2022 May 16.447 UT. The minor planet was nine magnitudes fainter than the star. An occultation at both sites was not expected to be observed due to the small diameter of the asteroid and the cross-path spacing of the two sites being much larger than the asteroid. However, both sites detected a clear occultation that reached the limit of 3 magnitudes fainter than the star for both recordings. We observed chord lengths across one body of 3.8 km and the second body of 3.3 km, with a mid-chord separation of 15.3 km. We rule out the possibility that the two occultations were caused by a double star, or a highly elongate object like 433 Eros or 216 Kleopatra.
Lightcurve Analysis for Four Near-Earth Asteroids Observed July-September 2024
Pages 59-63 Birtwhistle, Peter
Lightcurves and amplitudes for four near-Earth asteroids observed from Great Shefford Observatory during close approaches between July and September 2024 are reported. All are small objects with rotation periods shorter than 5 minutes and one is identified as having tumbling rotation.
CCD Photometric Observations of 617 Patroclus-Menoetius Mutual Events
Pages 64-69 Warner, Brian D.; Durkee, Russ; Fauerbach, Michael; Gebauer, John; Cloutier, William; Nastasi, Alessandro; Oey, Julian; Stephens, Robert D.; Tedesco, Daniel Guimaraes
In response to a call for photometric observations of the Jupiter Trojan binary asteroid, 617 Patroclus-Menoetius, we formed a collaboration of observers in the United States, Italy, Brazil, and Australia. The observations were to coincide with the 2024-2025 mutual events season, which would allow refining the parameters of the system in preparation for NASA’s Lucy fly-by mission in 2033 March. We recorded parts of nine different events from 2024 September 12 through October 23. Analysis found a period of 102.873 ± 0.006 h for the pair when including the events. The period without events was found to be 103.09 ± 0.04 h with an amplitude of 0.12 ± 0.01 mag. While we present analysis of our data for period and event details, we offer no interpretation regarding the parameters of the system beyond the rotation/orbital period. Additional observations will continue for as long as possible.
617 Patroclus-Menoetius Mutual Event Lightcurves
Pages 70-73 Hawley, Wayne; Armstrong, James D.; Marshall, Jameeka; DeGroff, Kent; Leyland, Paul C.; Odeh, Mohammad Shawkat; Oey, Julian; Fornas, Alvaro; Gonçalves, Rui; Kardasis, Emmanuel; Takoudi, Alexia; Usatov, Maxim; Drummond, John
We report on photometric observations of the binary Trojan asteroid 617 Patroclus-Menoetius undertaken from July to October 2024.
Observations of Patroclus and Menoetius Mutual Events with Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT)
Pages 74-76 Eluo, Jean-Baptiste Kikwaya; Hergenrother, Carl W.
We report observations of mutual events for the Patroclus and Menoetius binary system. We observed on 7 nights from September 29 to October 6, 2024, UT with the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope on Mount Graham, Arizona. Two clear mutual events lightcurves were obtained: September 30, 2024, from 06:07:12.0 UT to 09:57:36.0 UT with an amplitude of 0.82 magnitudes and October 02, 2024, from 09:28:48.0 UT to 09:46:04.8 UT with an amplitude of 0.05 magnitudes. On both dates, only part of the mutual event was observed. Three nights (29 Sept 2024 UT, 03 Oct 2024 UT, and 05 Oct 2024) did not show any mutual event as predicted by Brozovic et al. (2024). On two nights, 04 Oct 2024 UT, and 06 Oct 2024 UT, mutual events occurred outside the observing window at the VATT.
(617) Patroclus-Menoetius Mutual Events Observations from OASI Observatory
We present the mutual event lightcurves of the (617) Patoclus-Menoetius binary system acquired at the Observatório Astronômico do Sertão de Itaparica (OASI, MPC code Y28) from 2024 September 25 to 2024 October 12.
R-Band Monitoring of Patroclus and Menoetius Mutual Events
R-band monitoring of 617 Patroclus and its companion Menoetius was conducted over the course of several nights in 2024 September and October. We report the observations of superior and inferior mutual events for this binary asteroid system. Overall, we find reasonable agreement between our observations and the predicted timing of the mutual events, though the observed timing was often discrepant by 5-25 min from the predictions. Event depths were observed to be ÄR = 0.65-0.70 mag. The observations reported here will assist in refining the binary orbit and the asteroid sizes and shapes in preparation for the planned flyby of Patroclus and Menoetius in 2033 by NASA’s Lucy mission.
Observations of Mutual Events between 617 Patroclus and Menoetius on September 25, October 6, and October 23, 2024
Pages 82-84 Brincat, Stephen
On September 25, October 6, and October 23, 2024 UT, three photometric observational runs of the Trojan asteroid binary system 617 Patroclus-Menoetius were conducted as part of a coordinated effort to support NASA's Lucy mission, which is set to encounter this pair in March 2033. During these runs, lightcurve measurements were obtained to capture the ingress, egress and mid-eclipse timings of the predicted mutual events between the asteroid Patroclus and its satellite, Menoetius.
Photometric Detection of the 2024 October 23-24 Mutual Event of the Patroclus-Menoetius Binary Jupiter Trojan at Sopot Astronomical Observatory
Pages 84-85 Benishek, Vladimir
A single lightcurve partially covering the 2024 October 23-24 superior mutual event was obtained for the binary Jupiter Trojan asteroid system 617 Patroclus - Menoetius from Sopot Astronomical Observatory (K90) in Serbia.
Patroclus and Menoetius Mutual Events: Support for the NASA Lucy Mission to the Trojan Asteroids
Pages 86 Sioulas, Nick
Observations of the Patroclus and Menoetius mutual events are reported in support of the NASA Lucy Mission to the trojan asteroids. This report covers a superior event observed on 2024 October 23 UT.
Observations of (617) Patroclus Mutual Events in Support of the Lucy Mission to the Trojan Asteroids
We present lightcurves of mutual events of the L5 binary Trojan (617) Patroclus and its companion Menoetius during 2024 Sep-Oct. A total of nine events were observed using four telescopes, with two additional baseline observations.
Lightcurve Photometry Opportunities: 2025 January - April
Pages 90-93 Warner, Brian D.; Harris, Alan W.; Durech, Josef; Benner, Lance A. M.
We present lists of asteroid photometry opportunities for 2025 Jan-April. The extended four-month listing continues the changes announced in MPB 51-4 (Warner et al., 2024). Extending to the month beyond the usual quarter-year allows better observation planning, especially for those working in wide-spread collaborations. With the massive input of survey photometry, even if mostly sparse data, the small telescope researcher’s role is moving away generic studies to those concentrating on specific needs and targets and so, we hope, leading to even more fulfilling and fruitful efforts.
In This Issue
Pages 94 Wanrer, 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. %J The Minor Planet Bulletin (ISSN 1052-8091). Bulletin
