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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*7.2,13.7.
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Smith, J.J.; Jones, A.A. (2019).
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Vol 1-7 run Jul-Jun. Vol 8-present run Jan-Dec. Only papers indexed in the ADS are included.
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full issue in vol 1-9.
In recognition of Eric V. Dose, long-time prolific asteroid lightcurve analysist, upon his final MPB publication.
Lightcurves of Fourteen Asteroids
Pages 191-199 Dose, Eric V.
We present lightcurves and synodic rotation periods for fourteen asteroids, including the lead members for two recognized families: 1332 Marconia and 3811 Karma.
Observations of (617) Patroclus-Menoetius Mutual Events by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
We observed six mutual events in the binary system (617) Patroclus-Menoetius. This report presents the observed lightcurves along with preliminary results regarding the magnitude drop and event timing.
We present a preliminary shape and spin axis model for main-belt asteroid 49 Pales. The model was achieved with the lightcurve inversion process, using combined dense photometric data acquired from seven apparitions between 1977-2024 and sparse data from USNO Flagstaff. Analysis of the resulting data found a sidereal period P = 20.7080 ± 0.0002 hours and two mirrored pole solutions at (l = 95°, b = -89°) and (l = 272°, b = -88°) with an uncertainty of ± 30 degrees.
Lightcurve and Rotation of 55 Pandora
Pages 205 Pritchard, S. M.
A bimodal lightcurve was found for the main-belt asteroid 55 Pandora corresponding to a rotational period of 4.804 ± 0.001 hours with an amplitude of 0.3204 ± 0.0229 mag.
The Lightcurve and Rotation Period of 637 Chrysothemis
Pages 206 Pilcher, Frederick; Dose, Eric V.
We present the first ever published rotation period and amplitude for 637 Chrysothemis: 42.93 ± 0.01 hours and 0.31 ± 0.02 magnitudes, respectively, with an asymmetric bimodal lightcurve.
Broad-band monitoring of asteroid 797 Montana was conducted over the course of four nights in 2025 February. Observations from the first three nights were obtained through a Johnson V filter, while the fourth night was collected as unfiltered observations. We find a best-fit rotation period of 4.545 ± 0.001 h, which agrees with previous measurements, and an amplitude of variability of dV = 0.50 ± 0.03 mag, which agrees with an early measurement but is somewhat larger than most studies have reported.
Lightcurves and the Rotation Period of the Amor-Type Asteroid 887 Alinda
We find for the Amor-type asteroid 887 Alinda at its close approach to Earth in 2024-2025 a rotation period of 74.21 ± 0.01 hours, amplitude 0.28 ± 0.02 mag.
Lightcurve Analysis and Rotation Period for (887) Alinda
Pages 210-211 Nobre, Geovandro
Lightcurve observations of NEA (887) Alinda during its closest approach to Earth in late 2024 to early 2025 yield a most likely determination of its synodic rotation period of 73.03 ± 0.01 h. The period estimate is in agreement with the observations of Dunlap and Taylor (1979), whose period was found to be around 74 h, but other periods found could be considered: 71 h and 85.3 h.
Lightcurve and Rotation Period of Near-Earth Asteroid 887 Alinda During the 2025 Close Approach
A month-long global campaign of MIT observers distributed across three telescopes at Wallace Astrophysical Observatory (WAO), USA and three telescopes at Teide Observatory on the island of Tenerife, Spain determined that 887 Alinda has a synodic period of 73.96 ± 0.01 hours and a lightcurve amplitude of 0.23 ± 0.01 magnitudes as measured at a distance of approximately 12.2 million km from Earth.e; Zhang, Zimi; Marshall-De'Ath, Amius
Lightcurve and Rotation Period of 1318 Nerina
Pages 214 Xiong, Jiarui
A single-night observation of asteroid 1318 Nerina was taken by Xingyuan Observatory (MPC Code O40) on 2025 March 19. Tycho v11.0.1 was used to obtain its lightcurve and rotation period.
Lightcurve and Period of Koronis Family Member (2837) Griboedov
Pages 215 Wilkin, Francis P.
For Koronis family member (2837) Griboedov we derive a synodic period of 3.9498 ± 0.0002 h.
Lightcurve and Rotation Period of 46925 Bradyharan
Pages 216 Bamberger, Daniel P.; Deen, Sam; Ly, K.; Oliveira Mendes, Elvis; Schnabel, Arndt; Wells, Guy
Unfiltered CCD photometric observations of 46925 Bradyharan were obtained in Rio Hurtado, Chile, in February 2025. We report a synodic rotation period of 9.0322 ± 0.0015 h and an amplitude of 0.29 ± 0.02 mag.
Photometric Observations of Asteroids 229 Adelinda, 5802 Casteldelpiano and (27174) 1999 BB2e of 0.29 ± 0.02 mag.
Photometric observations of three main-belt asteroids were conducted to verify or determine their synodic rotation periods. We found: for 229 Adelinda P = 6.599 ± 0.001 h with A = 0.28 ± 0.02 mag; for 5802 Casteldelpiano, P = 2.970 ± 0.001 h with A = 0.07 ± 0.02 mag; for (2714) 1992 BB2, P = 4.820 ± 0.001 h with A = 0.05 ± 0.02 mag.
Lightcurves and Rotation Periods of 229 Adelinda, 413 Edburga, 1101 Clematis, 1342 Brabantia, and 1343 Nicole
Pages 219-221 Pilcher, Frederick
Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are found for 229 Adelinda 6.5992 ± 0.0002 hours, 0.26 ± 0.02 magnitudes; 413 Edburga 15.770 ± 0.001 hours, 0.52 ± 0.02 magnitudes; 1101 Clematis 8.598 ± 0.001 hours, 0.19 ± 0.02 magnitudes with an irregular lightcurve; 1342 Brabantia 4.1752 ± 0.0001 hours, 0.19 ± 0.01 magnitudes; and 1343 Nicole 14.771 ± 0.001 hours, amplitude 0.21 ± 0.01 magnitudeS.
Photometry of Suspected and Confirmed Binary Asteroids
Pages 222-225 Polakis, Tom
CD photometric observations of seven suspected and three confirmed binary asteroids were made from 2024 December through 2025 March. Mutual events were not detected for any of the seven suspected binary asteroids. Phased lightcurves were created for all ten asteroids. All the data have been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
We present lightcurves and synodic rotation periods for twenty asteroids observed from December 2024 through March 2025 at Dimension Point Observatory.
Collaborative Asteroid Photometry from UAI: 2025 January - March
Photometric observations of seven asteroids were made in order to acquire lightcurves for shape/spin axis modeling. Lightcurves were acquired for 862 Franzia, 1318 Nerina, 1342 Brabantia, 4133 Heureka, 6239 Minos, (137126) 1999 CF9, and (137805) 1999 YK5.
Synodic Rotation Periods and Lightcurves for 26 Asteroids from Sopot Astronomical Observatory: 2024 October – 2025 March
Pages 239-245 Benishek, Vladimir
Synodic rotation periods and lightcurves established for 26 asteroids observed at the Sopot Astronomical Observatory in the time span 2024 October - 2025 March are summarized in this paper.
Review of Rotation Curves and Periods of 32 Asteroids
Pages 246-253 Farfán, Rafael González; de la Cuesta, Faustino García; Casal, Jesús Delgado; Lorenz, Esteban Reina; Albá, Carlos Botana; De Elías Cantalapiedra, Javier; Fernández, Javier Ruiz; Martínez, Fernando Limón; Andújar, José M. Fernández; Mañanes, Esteban Fernández; Ribes, Noelia Graciá; Bárcena, Juan Collada; Lozano, Alfonso Coya; Ruiz, Javier Polancos; Cores, José Manuel
We assess data for 32 asteroids to investigate whether or not there have been significant changes in the previously published results for their rotation periods. A secondary goal is to contribute to the creation of 3D models. The 32 asteroids studied were: 77 Frigga (9.005 h), 79 Eurynome (5.975 h), 174 Phaedra (5.746 h), 247 Eukrate (12.091 h), 291 Alice (4.316 h), 321 Florentina (2.870 h), 350 Ornamenta (9.182 h), 402 Chloe (10.668 h), 416 Vaticana (5.370 h), 504 Cora (7.587 h), 511 Davida (5.129 h), 513 Centesima (4.792 h), 534 Nassovia (9.476 h), 575 Renate (3.676 h), 620 Drakonia (5.488 h), 675 Ludmilla (7.717 h), 766 Moguntia (4.817 h), 802 Epyaxa (4.392 h), 811 Nauheima (4.002 h), 966 Muschi (5.353 h), 1120 Cannonia (3.811 h), 1260 Walhalla (3.858 h), 1514 Ricouxa (10.415 h), 1664 Felix (3.345 h), 1808 Bellerophon (4.149 h), 1925 Franklin-Adams (2.979 h), 2195 Tengstrom (2.821 h), 2693 Yan’an (3.841 h), 3654 AAS (3.549 h), 3672 Stevedberg (2.778 h), 4440 Tchantches (2.788 h) and 5598 Carlmurray (2.923 h).
Determining the Rotational Periods and Lightcurves of Five Asteroids
Pages 253-255 Bradicich, Zelie-Louise; Bell, Caitlin; Bullock, Lydia; Montgomery, Kent
Aperture photometry using 1-meter class telescopes was performed to find lightcurves and rotation periods for the following five asteroids: 1833 Shmakova, 3.838 ± 0.001 h; 2305 King, 2.975 ± 0.001 h; 8168 Rogerbourke, 7.035 ± 0.003 h; (25283) 1998 WU, 2.634 ± 0.001 h; and (66251) 1999 GJ2, 2.462 ± 0.001 h.
Lightcurve Analysis for Nine Near-Earth Asteroids Observed in February 2010 and January - April 2025
Pages 256-264 Birtwhistle, Peter
Lightcurves and amplitudes for nine near-Earth asteroids observed from Great Shefford Observatory during close approaches in February 2010 and between January and April 2025 are reported. All but one are small objects with rotation periods 0.5 hour or shorter and three are identified as having tumbling rotation.
Lightcurves and Rotation Periods for Six Near-Earth Asteroids
Pages 264-266 Bamberger, Daniel P.; Wells, Guy
Unfiltered CCD photometric observations of the near- Earth asteroids 2015 DP155, 2020 SW, 2020 UQ6, 2023 DZ2, 2025 GB, and 161989 Cacus have been made between 2018 and 2025. All but one of them have known rotation periods. We confirm those results, and find a new rotation period of 0.172 hours for 2025 GB.
A New Satellite of Asteroid (6326) Idamiyoshi Discovered from Occultation Observation
A highly probable satellite phenomenon was observed during the occultation of the star UCAC4 525-004262 by the asteroid (6326) Idamiyoshi on August 21, 2024 at 18.75 hr (UT).
General Report of Position Observations by the ALPO Minor Planets Section for the Year 2024
Pages 271 Pilcher, Frederick
Observations of positions of minor planets by members of the Minor Planets Section in calendar year 2024 are summarized.
Pages 272-276 Warner, Brian D.; Harris, Alan W.; Durech, Josef; Benner, Lance A.M.
We present lists of asteroid photometry opportunities for 2025 July-October. The extended four-month listing 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 276 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.
