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.
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Minor Planet Bulletin
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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).
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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)..."
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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.
We report rotation lightcurves of 1840 Hus observed during its apparition in 2023. We have analyzed our data to calculate the synodic period with the Canopus software. Our conclusion with the available data is that the synodic rotation period is 4.7491 h.
Lightcurve and Constraints on the Spin Vector of Koronis Family Member (1840) Hus: Illustrating Analysis of a Combined Data Set
Pages 190-193 Slivan, Stephen M.; McLellan-Cassivi, Claire J.; Serra-Ricart, Miquel; Alarcón, M.R. 2023MPBu...50..190SDownload PDF
A new lightcurve of Koronis asteroid family member (1840) Hus records two consecutive rotations and confirms the resolution by Slivan et al. (2021) of the rotation period alias. The data are analyzed together with additional new lightcurves (Fornas et al., 2023) as well as observations from earlier apparitions as a case study to illustrate a spin vector determination described in detail, and as an example of an analysis that is documented so that a reader can understand what level of confidence is merited for the results. The Hus data set yields an unambiguous count of rotations back to 2001, a sidereal rotation period of 4.749052 ± 0.000002 h, and indicates that the spin is prograde with a high-latitude pole.
An Improved Lightcurve and Rotation Period of 1178 Irmela
A collaboration of observers from North America and Europe has produced a lightcurve of 1178 Irmela with synodic period 11.992 ± 0.001 hours, amplitude 0.29 ± 0.02 magnitudes, and full phase coverage.
Rotation Period Determination for the Mars-Crossing Asteroid (97514) 2000 Dl1
Photometric observations of the Mars-crossing asteroid (97514) 2000 DL1 were conducted in order to determine its synodic rotation period. The asteroid is certainly a slow rotator and the period has not been completely covered by our observations. We present the most likely bimodal solution with a period of P = 163.6 ± 0.3 h, A = 0.47 ± 0.09 mag.
Broad-Band Photometric Monitoring of 2500 Alascattalo
Broad-band photometric monitoring of the stony asteroid 2500 Alascattalo was carried out over three nights in 2023 February. We find a typical color of V–R = 0.44 ± 0.05 mag, which is in good agreement with expectations for S-class asteroids. We also report a rotation period of 2.751 ± 0.001 h and a V-band variability amplitude of 0.16 ± 0.02 mag, which are in excellent agreement with previously reported measurements.
Lightcurves and Rotation Periods of 111 Ate, 169 Zelia, 421 Zahringia, and 580 Selene
Lightcurves and rotational periods for Mars-Crossing asteroids (106848) 2000 YP16 and (133090) 2003 MS9 were obtained at the Observatório Astronômico do Sertão de Itaparica (MPC code Y28, OASI) in 2021 January- February and October-December, respectively.
Lightcurve Analysis for Two Near-Earth Asteroids Observed in January 2023
Lightcurves and amplitudes for 2 small near-Earth asteroids observed from Great Shefford Observatory during close approaches in January 2023 are reported. Both are superfast rotators with periods shorter than 3 minutes, one with reliably detected tumbling rotation.
We report photometric analysis of two near-Earth asteroids observed during close approaches in 2023 March. For 2023 EY we found P=0.0281 ± 0.0001 h, amplitude of 0.59 mag; Results for 2023 DZ2 are P=0.1050 ± 0.0001 h, amplitude of 0.48 mag.
Asteroid Photometry and Lightcurve Analysis of 1037 Davidweilla, 1369 Ostanina, 1718 Namibia, 4221 Picasso, 4368 Pillmore, 4901 O’Briain, 6223-Dahl, and 7353 Kazuya
Pages 208-210 Farfán, Rafael González; de la Cuesta, Faustino García; Fernández, Javier Ruiz; Mañanes, Esteban Fernández; Ribes, Noelia Graciá; Carballo, Juan-Luis González; De Elías Cantalapiedra, Javier; Casal, Jesús Delgado; Alonso, E. Díez 2023MPBu...50..208FDownload PDF
Lightcurves for eight asteroids were measured from 2022 May to August, except for 6223 Dahal, which was observed in 2021 November. Subsequent analysis found periods of: 1037 Davidweilla (4.508 h); 1369 Ostanina (8.392 h); 1718 Namibia (8.594 h); 4221 Picasso (3.111 h); 4368 Pillmore (3.605 h); 4901 O’Briain (2.650 h); 6223 Dahl (3.334 h); and 7353 Kazuya (6.387 h).
Photometric measurements were made for 10 main-belt asteroids, based on CCD observations made from 2023 January through 2023 February. Phased lightcurves were created for seven asteroids, while three did not yield period solutions. All the data have been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
Photometric observations of four main-belt asteroids, 2384 Schulhof, 7468 Anfimov, (42790) 1998 XS93, and (53090) 1998 YS7, were made at the Filzi School Observatory (Laives - Italy) MPC code D12.
Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Center for Solar System Studies Palmer Divide Station: 2023 January-February
CCD photometric observations of twelve asteroids were made at the Center for Solar System Studies Palmer Divide Station during 2023 January and February. Data analysis found a weak to moderate secondary period for the Hilda asteroids 1268 Libya and 2312 Duboshin, both possibly as sign of (unexpected) tumbling, the NEA (68359) 2001 IZ13 presents an unusual lightcurve with a very large amplitude of ~1.8 mag, and that NEA (98943) 2001 CC21 is a probable tumbler.
We present lightcurves and synodic rotation periods for nine asteroids. A trimodal interpretation is proposed for the lightcurve of Hungaria-family 4142 Dersu-Uzala.
Collaborative Asteroid Photometry from UAI: 2023 January-March
Photometric observations of eight asteroids were made to acquire lightcurves for shape/spin axis modeling. Synodic period and lightcurve amplitude were found for 111 Ate, 197 Arete, 261 Prymno, 325 Heidelberga, 359 Georgia, 737 Arequipa, 1523 Pieksamaki, and 2023 BU. Color indices were measured for 111 Ate, 197 Arete, 261 Prymno, and 737 Arequipa. H-G parameters were found for 197 Arete, 261 Prymno, and 359 Georgia
Rotational Period and Lightcurve Determination for Five Minor Planets
Photometric measurements of CMOS observations for five main-belt asteroids were made from 2022 December through 2023 February. Phased lightcurves were created for each one. Three of the asteroids have no prior published period solutions. All the data have been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
Asteroid Photometry and Lightcurve Analysis for Eight Asteroids
Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are reported for 244 Sita, 329 Svea, 421 Zahringia, 904 Rockefellia, 2479 Sodankyla, 4373 Crespo, (143947) 2003 YQ117, and 2015 RN35.
Rotation Period Determination for Asteroid 2023 DZ2
Photometry of near-Earth asteroid 2023 DZ2 were conducted from the NOAK Observatory, located in Greece, to determine its synodic rotation period. The results are: P = 0.1046 ± 0.0035 h, A = 0.64 mag.
General Report of Position Observations by the ALPO Minor Planets Section for the Year 2022
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.
