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
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Authors Guide and Word Templates
(v.2.9: updated 2019 November 14)
The ZIP file contains the Authors Guide PDF as well as a "starter" paper in Word 97 (DOT) and Word 2007+ (DOTX). Please read this updated guide since there are a number of changes from previous guides.
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
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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.
Photometric observations of the main-belt asteroid 2409 Chapman were conducted in order to determine its rotation period. We found P = 3.1534 ± 0.0006 h, A = 0.14 ± 0.01 mag as the synodic period and lightcurve amplitude for this asteroid.
Determining the Rotational Period and Lightcurve of Main-Belt Asteroid 5433 Kairen
Pages 3 Bonamico, Roberto
CCD photometric observations were made of the mainbelt asteroid 5433 Kairen. The results of lightcurve analysis gave P = 10.7624 ± 0.0031 h, A = 0.34 mag.
Minor Planet 426 Hippo at its year 2020 opposition displayed an unymmetric bimodal lightcurve with synodic rotation period of 67.52 ± 0.01 h, amplitude 0.26 ± 0.02 mag.E.; Papini, Riccardo
Lightcurves and Rotation Periods of 49 Pales, 383 Janina, and 764 Gedania
Pages 5-6 Pilcher, Frederick
Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are found for 49 Pales: 20.702 ± 0.001 h, 0.18 ± 0.01 mag, with 4 maxima and minima per cycle; 383 Janina: 6.4298 ± 0.0001 h, 0.17 ± 0.02 mag; 764 Gedania: 24.968 ± 0.003 h, 0.22 ± 0.02 mag.
Lightcurves of Three Main-Belt Asteroids
Pages 7-8 Ferrero, Andrea
In this paper we present the result of a photometric work on three asteroids: (18879) 1999 XJ143, P = 33.53 ± 0.01 h, A = 0.50 mag; (19562) 1999 JM81, P = 9.024 ± 0.001 h, A = 0.78 mag; (65936) 1998 FJ69, P = 2.800 ± 0.001 h, A = 0.19 mag.
Analysis of Lightcurves to Find the Rotation Periods of Three Asteroids
We attempted to determine the rotation periods of 2684 Douglas, 4137 Crabtree, and (498066) 2007 RM133. A search of the asteroid lightcurve database (LCDB; Warner et al., 2009) revealed no known periods for these asteroids. Observations were collected using the 443mm reflector iTelescope T17 located in Siding Spring, Australia, over multiple nights in June, July, and August. Aperture photometry was then performed for each night the asteroids were observed. We did not conclusively determine their respective rotation periods; however, we constrained the possible range of plausible rotation periods.
Rotational Periods and Lightcurve Determination of 6259 Maillol, 6792 Akiyamatakashi and 85275 (1994 LY)
Pages 11-12 Noschese, Alfonso; Catapano, Antonio; Mollica, Maurizio; Vecchione, Antonio
The lightcurves and rotation period determinations for 6259 Maillol, 6792 Akiyamatakashi, and (85275) 1994 LY are reported in this paper.
Lightcurve Analysis of L4 Trojan Asteroids at The Center for Solar System Studies: 2020 July to September
Pages 13-15 Stephens, Robert D.; Warner, Brian D.
Lightcurves for three L4 Jovian Trojan asteroids were obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies (CS3) from 2020 July to September.
Lightcurves of Three Hildas
Pages 15-16 Romanishin, W.
I present lightcurves for three Hilda population objects. For 1748 Mauderli, I find a period of 6.003 h, in agreement with some but not all published values. For two other objects, 1439 Vogtia and 2246 Bowell, I find good agreement with previous periods. The observations for these two objects were made in 2013, so they can be useful for providing additional time baselines for shape models.
Lightcurve Analysis of Hilda Asteroids at The Center for Solar System Studies: 2020 August - September
Pages 17-19 Warner, Brian D.; Stephens, Robert D.
New CCD photometric observations of four Hilda asteroid members were made from 2020 August through September: 499 Venusia, 1162 Larissa, 2760 Kacha, and (13035) 1989 UA6. One of them, 2760 Kacha, showed weak signs of a secondary period, but its origin may be only a harmonic artifact of Fourier analysis.
Collaborative Asteroid Photometry from UAI: 2020 July-September
Photometric observations of six main-belt and one near-Earth asteroids were made in order to acquire lightcurves for shape/spin axis modeling. The synodic period and lightcurve amplitude were found for 375 Ursula: 16.900 ± 0.004 h, 0.09 mag; 444 Gyptis: 6.2136 ± 0.0006 h, 0.09 mag; 737 Arequipa: 7.024 ± 0.001 h, 0.14 mag; 1146 Biarmia: 5.4697 ± 0.0007 h, 0.17 mag; 1346 Gotha: 2.6366 ± 0.0006 h, 0.11 mag; 1656 Suomi: 2.5892 ± 0.0006 h, 0.11 mag; 2020 PL2: 0.3606 ± 0.0001 h, 1.5 mag.
Photometric Observations of Seven Minor Planets
Pages 23-25 Polakis, Tom
Phased lightcurves and synodic rotation periods for seven main-belt asteroids are presented, based on CCD observations made from 2020 September through 2020 October. All the data have been submitted to the ALCDEF database.
Lightcurve Analysis for Four Near-Earth Asteroids
Pages 26-29 Birtwhistle, Peter
Lightcurves for four near-Earth asteroids observed from Great Shefford Observatory during close approaches in 2018 and 2020 are reported: 2018 CB, 2018 GE3, 2020 KK7 and 2020 SW. All are small (H > 23) fast or super-fast rotators.
Near-Earth Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Center for Solar System Studies: 2020 July-September
Pages 30-39 Warner, Brian D.; Stephens, Robert D.
Lightcurves for 25 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies (CS3) from 2020 July to September were analyzed for rotation period, peak-to-peak amplitude, and signs of satellites or tumbling.
On Confirmed and Suspected Binary Asteroids Observed at the Center for Solar System Studies
Pages 40-49 Warner, Brian D.; Stephens, Robert D.
The analysis of observations made at the Center for Solar System Studies from 2020 July through September, led to the discovery or confirmation of two binary asteroids: the Vestoid 4030 Archenhold and NEA (85275) 1994 LY. The latter had been reported as a suspected binary by Pravec et al. (2007web). An additional nine asteroids were found to have a secondary period but without confirming mutual events (occultations/eclipses) due to a satellite: the known Hungaria binary 2577 Litva, 5928 Pindarus (Hilda), 7174 Semois (Hilda), (16970) 1998 VV2 (Hilda), (39282) 2001 BM36 (Hilda), (119356) 2001 SF235 (inner main-belt), (159402) 1999 AP10 (NEA), (420302) 2011 XZ1 (NEA), and 2019 AN5 (NEA). We discuss the likelihood of eight of those objects actually being binary.
Asteroid Photometry and Lightcurve Analysis at GORA Observatories
Synodic rotation periods and amplitudes are reported for 57 Mnemosyne, 188 Menippe, 191 Kolga, 236 Honoria, 261 Prymno, 270 Anahita, 469 Argentina, 530 Turandot, 584 Semiramis, 921 Jovita, 936 Kunigunde, 994 Otthild, 1157 Arabia, 1180 Rita, 1269 Rollandia, 1594 Danjon, 3519 Ambiorix, and (52768) 1998 OR2.
Main-belt Asteroids Observed from CS3: 2020 July to September
Pages 56-69 Stephens, Robert D.; Warner, Brian D.
CCD photometric observations of 25 main-belt asteroids were obtained at the Center for Solar System Studies (CS3) from 2020 July to September. In addition, updated periods were found for 1582 Martir, (14923) 1994 TU3, and (23482) 1991 LV.
Lightcurves of Nineteen Asteroids
Pages 69-76 Dose, Eric V.
Using a previously described workflow based on applying dozens of comparison stars from the ATLAS refcat catalog to each image, we have obtained and present lightcurves and synodic periods for nineteen asteroids. We also describe refinements to magnitude correction for airmass (altitude of the field of view), especially useful during periods of high extinction, for example, through atmospheric smoke resulting from recent forest fire events near the U.S. Pacific coast.
Photometry of 30 Asteroids at Sopot Astronomical Observatory: 2020 February - October
Pages 77-83 Benishek, Vladimir
CCD photometric observations of 30 asteroids were conducted at Sopot Astronomical Observatory (SAO) from 2020 February through 2020 October. A review of the results obtained for synodic rotation periods as well as the established lightcurves is presented here.
Minor Planets at Unusually Favorable Elongations in 2021
Pages 83-85 Pilcher, Frederick
A list is presented of minor planets which are much brighter than usual at their 2021 apparitions.
Using Pan-Starrs Data to Calibrate Red Lightcurve Images
Pages 86-87 Romanishin, W.
I investigate the utility of the Pan-STARRS photometric catalog for magnitude calibration of small telescope CCD images. With some judicious selection of stars from the Pan-STARRS catalog, I find that the Pan- STARRs data should be very useful for this purpose, due to its wide sky coverage and excellent photometry.
Asteroid-Deepsky Appulses in 2021
Pages 88 Warner, Brian D.
The following list is a very small subset of the results of a search for asteroid-deepsky appulses for 2021, presenting only the highlights for the year based on close approaches of brighter asteroids to brighter DSOs.
Pages 89-97 Warner, Brian D.; Harris, Alan W.; Durech, Josef; Benner, Lance A.M.
We present lists of asteroid photometry opportunities for objects reaching a favorable apparition and having either none or poorly-defined lightcurve parameters. Additional data on these objects will help with shape and spin axis modeling via lightcurve inversion. We also include lists of objects that will be the target of radar observations. Lightcurves for these objects can help constrain pole solutions and/or remove rotation period ambiguities that might not come from using radar data alone.
In This Issue
Pages 98 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.
