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
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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.
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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.
Lightcurve period and amplitude results from Old Orchard Observatory are reported for 2022 January-May, 268 Adorea (7.7952 ± 0.0008 h and 0.285 mag). 2023 April-May, (16735) 1996 JJ (3.1796 ± 0.0008 h and 0.436 mag).
Rotation Period Determination for Asteroid 8861 Jenskandler
Photometric observations of the asteroid 8861 Jenskandler were conducted between 2023 April 14 and 2023 April 26 with the objective of estimating its rotation period. The preliminary rotation period was approximated at 2.9992 +/- 0.0019 hours. However, due to insufficient data, we were unable to ascertain the asteroid's lightcurve shape conclusively.
Rotation Period Determination of 3214 Makarenko
Pages 250 Dellamura, Gregory; Frueh, Elliot; Green, Alexander; Hayes-Gehrke, Melissa; Kim, Amy; Leone, Sage; Ose, Evelyn; Pang, Carol; Ramsland, Jason; Reed, Maggie; Simmons, Matthew; Sumesh, Sandra; Mercado, Ehani Lai Taylor; Brincat, Stephen M. 2023MPBu...50..250DDownload PDF
We report observations of the main-belt asteroid 3214 Makarenko in April 2023. Our results show P = 10.114 ± 0.015 h with an amplitude of 0.10 ± 0.04 mag.
Lightcurve Analysis and Rotation Period Determination of Asteroid 1821 Aconcagua
Pages 251 Hayes-Gehrke, Melissa; Richman, Alex; Sorkin, Neil; Wilson, George; Yang, Jerry; Hill, Keith; Jiang, Jeff; Joon, Yash; Nguyen, Colin; Price, Aaron; Sawai, Nobukazu; Trauger, James; Galdies, Charles 2023MPBu...50..251HDownload PDF
Lightcurve analysis was conducted on data from observations of main-belt asteroid 1821 Aconcagua between 2023 April 13 and 2023 April 26. Images were taken using two telescopes in Siding Spring, Australia and Naxxar, Malta. MPO Canopus was used for the data analysis, resulting in a rotation period determination of 2.7573 ± 0.0018 h, with amplitude 0.13 ± 0.02 mag.
Rotation Period Determination and Lightcurve Analysis of Asteroid 1852 Carpenter
We report on photometric observations of the main-belt asteroid 1852 Carpenter that were acquired from 2023 April 13 to April 26. The observations yielded a synodic rotation period of 29.8685 ± 0.0185h and an amplitude of 0.41 ± 0.06 mag.
Photometry and Lightcurve Analysis of Vesta Family Asteroid (14645) 1998 XR9
Photometric observations of the Vesta family asteroid (14645) 1998 XR9 were obtained, and a rotational period of 2.837 ± 0.001 h was determined, with a lightcurve amplitude of 0.28 mag.
Rotation Period Determination for Asteroid 5355 Akihiro
Photometric observations of the main-belt asteroid 5355 Akihiro were conducted to determine its synodic rotation period. We found P = 2.983 ± 0.002 h, A = 0.13 ± 0.04 mag as the most likely bimodal solution.
An international collaboration of observers from North America and Europe presents a lightcurve of the Earth commensurate asteroid 357 Ninina that shows a synodic rotation period 36.00 ± 0.01 hours, amplitude 0.08 ± 0.01 magnitudes with a single deep minimum in an otherwise nearly flat lightcurve.
Lightcurves Analysis of Three Main-Belt Asteroids: 3602 Lazzaro, 10468 Itacuruba and (53437) 1999 WL2
Pages 256-257 Monteiro, Filipe; Rondón, Eduardo; Arcoverde, Plícida; Lazzaro, Daniela; Rodrigues, Teresinha; Souza, Roberto; Silva-Cabrera, J. S.; Medeiros, Hissa 2023MPBu...50..256MDownload PDF
We present rotational lightcurves for three main-belt asteroids, 3602 Lazzaro, 10468 Itacuruba and (53437) 1999 WL2, obtained at the Observatório Astronômico do Sertão de Itaparica (OASI, MPC code Y28). For 3602 Lazzaro, we found a rotation period of 4.933 ± 0.002 h, for 10468 Itacuruba a period of 13.040 ± 0.002 h and for (53437) 1999 WL2 a period of 8.573 ± 0.004 h.
Rotation Periods for 2707 Ueferji and (23552) 1994 NB
We present photometric optical lightcurves and derived rotation periods for a sample of two asteroids: 2707 Ueferji (P = 5.2515 ± 0.0295 h) and (23552) 1994 NB (3.628 ± 0.001 h). Observations were carried out at the Observatorio Astronómico Carl Sagan (OACS) of the Universidad de Sonora in Hermosillo, México.
Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are reported for: 957 Camelia, 1030 Vitja, 1135 Colchis, 1903 Adzhimushkaj, (97034) 1999 UK7 A and B components, (97514) 2000 DL1, and (199145) 2005 YY128.
Lightcurves for Koronis Family Objects (2498) Tsesevich and (2742) Gibson
We present lightcurves for (2498) Tsesevich and (2742) Gibson during 2022. Observations of Tsesevich made at the Union College Observatory are consistent with the previous period (Wilkin and Schechter, 2022). Observations of Gibson on two nights at Chi-4 yielded a partial lightcurve which we combined with ATLAS sparse survey data to obtain a doubly-periodic composite with period 20.60±0.01 h.
Collaborative Asteroid Photometry from UAI: 2023 April-June
Photometric observations of five asteroids were made in order to acquire lightcurves for shape/spin axis modeling. Synodic periods and lightcurve amplitudes were found for 1166 Sakuntala, 1929 Kollaa, 3443 Leetsungdao, and 2020 DB5. We also found color indices for 294 Felicia, 1166 Sakuntala, and 2020 DB5.
Lightcurves, H-G Curves and Color Indices for Three Minor Planets
Photometric measurements were made for three mainbelt asteroids based on CCD observations made from 2023 April through June. Phased lightcurves are presented, followed by phase-slope parameter analyses based on 30 nights of data. Three color indices were computed for each asteroid. All the lightcurve data have been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
Lightcurve Analysis for Seventeen Main-Belt and Two Mars-Crossing Asteroid
Lightcurve and synodic rotation period results were derived using photometric data for 23 asteroids obtained at the Sopot Astronomical Observatory in the time span 2022 October – 2023 July.
Photometric measurements of fourteen main-belt asteroids were conducted from 2023 February through 2023 May. Phased lightcurves and rotation periods for each one are presented here. Eight of the asteroids have no prior published period solutions. All lightcurve data has been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
Lightcurve Analysis for Four Near-Earth Asteroids Observed April-June 2023
Lightcurves and amplitudes for four small near-Earth asteroids observed from Great Shefford Observatory during close approaches between April and June 2023 are reported. All are fast rotators with dominant periods shorter than 10 minutes and two are identified as having tumbling rotation.
Lightcurves and Colors of Four Small Near-Earth Asteroids: 2020 BV14, 2023 HH3, 2023 HT3, 2023 KQ
Photometric observations of four small, potentially fastrotating near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) were conducted in April and May 2023. Lightcurves for three NEAs and BVRI colors for all four NEAs are reported. A relative reflectance was computed and compared with observed asteroid spectra (from SMASS and SMASSII) for each asteroid. Also, the comparison was performed with lab spectra of meteorites from the Brown University Reflectance Experiment Laboratory.
Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Center for Solar System Studies Palmer Divide Station: 2023 May-July
CCD photometric observations of twenty asteroids were made at the Center for Solar System Studies Palmer Divide Station during 2023 May and July. Data analysis found two likely binary asteroids: 2449 Kenos and (236716) 2007 FV42. Hungaria asteroids 3225 Hoag and 4232 Aparicio have unexplained secondary periods, and the near-Earth asteroid (467336) 2002 LT38 is very likely to be in non-principal axis rotation, i.e., it is a tumbler.
Lightcurves and Rotation Periods of 102 Miriam, 126 Velleda, 294 Felicia, 547 Praxedis, 716 Berkeley, 1166 Sakuntala, and 2535 Hameenlinna
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. The “Radar-Optical Opportunities” section includes a list of potential radar targets as well as some that might be in critical need of astrometric data.
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 poorquality 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.
