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:
Minor Planet Bulletin
c/o Melissa Hayes-Gehrke
UMD Astronomy Department
1113 PSC Bldg 415
College Park, MD 20742
Authors Guide and Word Templates
(v.3.0: updated 2024 February 2)
The ZIP file contains the Authors Guide PDF as well as a "starter" paper in Word 2007+ (DOTX).
Those using Word 97 (DOC/DOT) are encouraged to download
OpenOffice and convert their files to
the most recent Word format (DOCX). Please read this updated guide since there are a number of changes from previous guides.
A new, optional, table is available for those wanting to include physical and
discovery information
in a more accessible way.
See the announcement in Minor Planet Bulletin51-2.
The Pts column is no longer required and has been removed from the template for the standard
table
to allow more room for the other columns.
The phase column should have only two values: for the first and last date in the range.
If the phase reaches an extrema between those dates, put an asterisk before the first value.
For example,
*7.2,13.7.
Use semicolons to separate names in the references section. For example:
Smith, J.J.; Jones, A.A. (2019).
This also applies if using several references to the same author in the text. For example:
"This asteroid was observed at three previous apparitions (Jones, 2015; 2017; 2018)..."
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
not processed the files. The links will be made available after the ADS processes the files.
If the "Download PDF" link is visible and there is no PDF available, clicking the link will download an arbitrary
page. We are working with ADS to make sure all papers are available and, if not, being able to diasable the link.
The "Download Full Issue" link does retrieve the correct file.
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.
This is a call for interested minor planet observers to join in the effort to observe exoplanets as a member of the Exoplanet Section of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO). Minor planet observers already possess a large part of the requisite skills and knowledge to perform effective observations and provide high-quality data.
Section News: Robert Stephens Named Associate Coordinator of the Minor Planets Section
Observers who have made visual, photographic, or CCD measurements of positions of minor planets in calendar year 2021 are encouraged to report them to this author on or before 2022 April 1.
Rotation Period Determination for Asteroid 849 Ara
Photometric observations of the main-belt asteroid 849 Ara were conducted from the NOAK Observatory, in Greece in order to determine its synodic rotation periods. The results are: P = 4.119 ± 0.001 h, A = 0.18 mag.
Rotational Period Determination of 5987 Liviogratton
We report observations of the main-belt asteroid 5987 Liviogratton in September 2021. Our results show P = 3.2 ± 0.1 h with an amplitude of A = 0.19 mag.
Synodic and Sidereal Rotation Periods of Koronis Family Member (1762) Russell
Pages 71-73 Slivan, Stephen M.; Colclasure, Abigail; Escobedo, Ines; Henopp, Aidan; Knight, R.; Mitchell, Andi; Wilkin, Francis P. 2022MPBu...49...71SDownload PDF
Rotation lightcurves of Koronis asteroid family member (1762) Russell were observed in 2021, yielding a synodic rotation period of 12.7946 ± 0.0004 h. The precision is shown to be sufficient to unambiguously count sidereal rotations across the entire data set of available Russell lightcurves, and constrain the sidereal rotation period to 12.79381 ± 0.00007 h prograde.
Photometric Observations and Data Analysis of NEA Binary Asteroid 5143 Heracles
Analysis of CCD photometric observations of the known binary asteroid 5143 Heracles (Taylor et al., 2012) was conducted at the Center for Solar System Studies based on observations obtained in 2021 October and November. A secure period of P1 = 2.70776 ± 0.00006 h was established for the rotation of the primary. The secondary period is ambiguous and depends on whether or not the rotation of the secondary is locked to its orbital period. Our analysis favors an independently rotating secondary with P2 = 46.41 h.
Lightcurve for Koronis Family Member 2498 Tsesevich
Observations of the Koronis-family asteroid 2498 Tsesevich were obtained on five nights in 2021 at the 0.61m Chi-1 telescope of El Sauce Observatory. We obtained a doubly-periodic lightcurve with period 2.8737 ± 0.0002 h and an amplitude in Sloan r´ (SR) of 0.26 ± 0.04 mag.
Rotational Period Determination and Taxonomic Classification for Asteroid 8080 Intel
CCD photometric observation of outer main-belt asteroid 8080 Intel was obtained in order to measure the rotation period and find the color indexes B-V and V-R. These measures were performed during five different nights on 2021 Oct 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 using the instrumentation available at the Osservatorio Astronomico Margherita Hack located on the hills near Florence (Italy).
CMOS photometric observations of asteroid (125072) 2001 UG were performed by the author at The Studios Observatory in January 2022. The synodic rotation period was determined as 9.27 ± 0.01 h with amplitude 0.68 ± 0.04 mag.
We report results from April 2018 measurements from Kitt Peak National Observatory showing near-Earth asteroid 2018 GG to be a fast rotator. From three data series, the lightcurve analysis suggests that the asteroid has a rotational period of 0.0223 ± 0.0001 h and 0.33 magnitude amplitude; with a small possibility of the period being 0.023 h.
Mutual events appearing in the lightcurve of 6764 Kirrillavrov unambiguously show that it is a binary asteroid with a rotation period of 4.739 ± 0.001 h, and an orbital period of 30.41 ± 0.01 h. Follow-up observations conducted during the 2021 opposition did not detect the mutual events due to unfavorable viewing geometry. Further observations during subsequent oppositions are encouraged.
Near-Earth Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Center for Solar System Studies: 2021 October-December
Lightcurves of 16 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies (CS3) from 2021 October through December were analyzed for rotation period, peak-to-peak amplitude, and signs of satellites or tumbling. The minor planets (87024) 2000 JS66 and 2019 XS were found to be in a tumbling state.
Lightcurve Analysis for Eleven Near-Earth Asteroids
Lightcurves and amplitudes for eleven near-Earth asteroids observed from Great Shefford Observatory during close approaches in 2021 are reported: 2021 LC1, 2021 QB3, 2021 RA, 2021 RB1, 2021 RS2, 2021 RG19, 2021 TT10, 2021 US1, 2021 UW1, 2021 VL3 and 2021 VQ26. Most are fast or superfast rotators including two ultra-fast rotators with periods < 1 minute and one shows indications of tumbling.
Lightcurve Analysis of 10 V-Type Asteroids
Pages 98-101 Nowinski, Matthew, C.; Linder, Tyler, R.; Reichart, Daniel E.; Haislip, Joshua B.; Kouprianov, Vladimir V.; Moore, Justin P. 2022MPBu...49...98NDownload PDF
Lightcurves for ten asteroids of taxonomic type V, potential impact debris from 4 Vesta, are presented. This analysis is based on observations conducted from 2016 November through 2017 June.
Lightcurve Analysis of Hilda Asteroids at the Center for Solar System Studies: 2021 September-December
CCD photometric observations of five Hilda asteroids made between 2021 September-December. Data analysis found that four were in simple principal axis rotation, i.e., a single rotation period could be found. On the other hand, revised analysis of data obtained in 2018 for 1748 Mauderli showed potential signs of a satellite.
Photometric observations of two main-belt asteroids, (7637) 1984 DN and (49483) 1999 BP13, were made at the Filzi School Observatory (School in country Laives - Italy) MPC code D12.
Photometry and Lightcurve Analysis of 1774 Kulikov, 7145 Linzexu, 11099 Sonodamasaki and (16024) 1999 CT101
Photometric observations of four main belt asteroids were obtained on four nights 2021 August 9 to 2021 October 6. The following rotational periods were determined: 1774 Kulikov, 3.831 ± 0.001 h; 7145 Linzexu, 2.905 ± 0.004 h; 11099 Sonodamasaki, 7.247 ± 0.001 h and (16024) 1999 CT101, 2.791 ± 0.001 h.
Main-belt Asteroids Observed from CS3: 2021 September - 2022 January
CCD photometric observations of five main-belt asteroids were obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies (CS3) from 2021 September to 2022 January.
Collaborative Asteroid Photometry of Six Main-Belt Asteroids
Synodic rotation periods of six main-belt asteroids were derived from photometric observations obtained from 2021 July 21 through November 2 from three observatories situated in Malta and one from Spain. We provide lightcurve rotation periods for (1713) Bancilhon, (2232) Altaj, (2458) Veniakaverin, (6681) Prokopovich, (6787) 1991 PF15, and (18863) 1999 RC191.
Determining the Lightcurves and Rotational Periods of Five Main Belt Asteroids
Lightcurves and rotational periods were determined for the following five main belt asteroids: 3942 Churivannia, 2.516 ± 0.002 h; 4673 Bortle, 2.643 ± 0.001 h; 5186 Donalu, 3.154 ± 0.001 h; 8441 Lapponica, 3.285 ± 0.001 h; and 12259 Szukalski, 5.986 ± 0.001 h.
Lightcurve Analysis of L4 Trojan Asteroids at the Center for Solar System Studies: 2021 October to December
Photometric observations of two main-belt asteroids were conducted in order to determine their synodic rotation periods. For 4988 Chushuho we found P = 3.170 ± 0.001 h, A = 0.15 ± 0.02 mag; for 7393 Luginbuhl we found P = 2.602 ± 0.001 h, A = 0.08 ± 0.03 mag.
Lightcurves and Rotation Periods of 330 Adalberta, 494 Virtus, 530 Turandot, 784 Pickeringia, and 1009 Sirene
Photometric observations of eight asteroids were made in order to acquire lightcurves for shape/spin axis modeling. The synodic period and lightcurve amplitude were found for 197 Arete, 359 Georgia, 796 Sarita, 901 Brunsia, 1346 Gotha, 4660 Nereus, 4935 Maslachkova and 6249 Jennifer.
Photometric measurements were made for 13 main-belt asteroids, based on CCD observations made from 2021 October through December. Phased lightcurves were created for 12 asteroids, while one did not yield a period solution. All the data have been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
The Rotation Periods of 3 Juno, 28 Bellona, 129 Antigone, 214 Aschera, 237 Coelestina, 246 Asporina, 382 Dodona, 523 Ada, 670 Ottegebe, 918 Itha, 1242 Zambesia, 1352 Wawel, 1358 Gaika, 4155 Watanabe, and 6097 Koishikawa
Pages 136-140 Farfan Rafael Gonzalez; de la Cuesta, Faustino Garcia; Mananes, Esteban Fernandez; Ribes, Noelia Gracia; Fernandez, Javier Ruiz; De Elias Cantalapiedra, Javier; Andujar, Jose M. Fernandez; Casal, Jesus Delgado; Lorenz, Esteban Reina; Nogues, Ramon Naves; Alonso, E. Diez 2022MPBu...49..136FDownload PDF
CCD photometric observations carried out at Sopot Astronomical Observatory (SAO) from 2021 July to 2022 January led to establishing the lightcurve and synodic rotation period solutions for 11 asteroids.
We present lists of asteroid photometry opportunities for objects reaching a favorable apparition and have no or poorly-defined lightcurve parameters. Additional data on these objects will help with shape and spin axis modeling using lightcurve inversion. We have changed the presentation of the “Radar-Optical Opportunities” section to include a list of potential radar targets as well as some that are in critical need of astrometric data and, if found, might also be targets for radar. These can have ephemeris errors on the order of tens to thousands of arcseconds and, despite the current surveys, have not been observed for several years. This makes them a double challenge: first to be found and, second, to determine astrometric positions and photometric properties.
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.
