Photometric lightcurves and pole determination of 433 Eros

Fourteen photometric lightcurves of 433 Eros were made at the Astronomical Observatory of Torino during the 1974–75 close passage. The absolute magnitude of the primary maximum (10^m78), the phase coefficient (0.023 mag/degree), the synodic and sidereal period of rotation (0^d.21956 and 0^d.21959, respectively) and the ecliptic coordinates of the pole (λ = 17°, β = 10°) were deduced.     

A possible rotation period for the minor planet 164 Eva

The minor planet 164 Eva passed through opposition on December 1, 1975 with a magnitude B_opp = 11.3 mag. Photoelectric observations at the Observatory of Torino, Italy, were carried out in two nights on Oct. 27/28 and Nov. 11, each with a run of about 3 hr. Two further successful photoelectric observations were carried out at the OHP, France, each with a run of about 6 hr. From all observed parts of the lightcurve a resulting synodic period of rotation of about 27.3 hr can be deduced, with a range of the total amplitude of at least Δm = 0.07 mag. With this period of 27.3 hr the minor planet 164 Eva is one more long period object, falling now between 654 Zelinda (H. J. Schober, 1975, Astron. Astrophys.44, 85–89) and 139 Juewa (J. Goguen et al., 1976, Icarus29, 137–142), at the high end in the histogram of the distribution of minor planet rotation periods.     

Variations in the Solar Coronal Rotation with Altitude – Revisited

Here we report an in-depth reanalysis of an article by Vats et al. (Astrophys. J. 548, L87, 2001) that was based on measurements of differential rotation with altitude as a function of observing frequencies (as lower and higher frequencies indicate higher and lower heights, respectively) in the solar corona. The radial differential rotation of the solar corona is estimated from daily measurements of the disc-integrated solar radio flux at 11 frequencies: 275, 405, 670, 810, 925, 1080, 1215, 1350, 1620, 1755, and 2800 MHz. We use the same data as were used in Vats et al. (2001), but instead of the twelfth maxima of autocorrelograms used there, we use the first secondary maximum to derive the synodic rotation period. We estimate synodic rotation by Gaussian fit of the first secondary maximum. Vats et al. (2001) reported that the sidereal rotation period increases with increasing frequency. The variation found by them was from 23.6 to 24.15 days in this frequency range, with a difference of only 0.55 days. The present study finds that the sidereal rotation period increases with decreasing frequency. The variation range is from 24.4 to 22.5 days, and the difference is about three times larger (1.9 days). However, both studies give a similar rotation period at 925 MHz. In Vats et al. (2001) the Pearson’s factor with trend line was 0.86, whereas present analysis obtained a \({\sim}\,0.97\) Pearson’s factor with the trend line. Our study shows that the solar corona rotates more slowly at higher altitudes, which contradicts the findings reported in Vats et al. (2001).     

Nature of the small main belt Asteroid 3169 Ostro

We present a set of rotational lightcurve measurements of the small main belt Asteroid 3169 Ostro. Our observations reveal an unambiguous, double-peaked rotational lightcurve with a peak-to-peak variation up to 1.2±0.05 mag and a synodic period of 6.509±0.001 h. From the large flux variation and the overall shape of the lightcurves, we suggest that 3169 Ostro could be a tightly bound binary or a contact binary, similar to the Trojan Asteroid 624 Hektor. A shape model of this system is proposed on the assumption that 3169 Ostro is a Roche binary described by a pair of homogeneous elongated bodies, with a size ratio of 0.87, in hydrostatic equilibrium and in circular synchronous motion around each other. The direction of the spin axis is determined modulo 180° by its J2000 ecliptic coordinates λ₀=50±10°, β₀=±54±5°. The binary interpretation and the pole solution adequately fit the earlier photometric observations made in 1986 and 1988. However, additional supporting lightcurves are highly desirable especially in the next mutual events occurrence of 2008 and 2009 in order to remove the pole ambiguity and to confirm unambiguously the binary nature of 3169 Ostro.     

Simultaneous visible and near-infrared time resolved observations of the outer Solar System object (29981) 1999 TD10

The outer Solar System object (29981) 1999 TD₁₀ was observed simultaneously in the R, and J and H bands in September 2001, and in B, V, R, and I in October 2002. We derive B−V=0.80±0.05 mag, V−R=0.48±0.05 mag, R−I=0.44±0.05 mag, R−J=1.24±0.05 mag, and J−H=0.61±0.07 mag. Combining our data with the data from Rousselot et al. (2003, Astron. Astrophys. 407, 1139) we derive a synodic period of 15.382±0.001 hr in agreement with the period from Rousselot et al. Our observations at the same time, with better S/N and seeing, show no evidence of a coma, contrary to the claim by Choi et al. (2003, Icarus 165, 101).     

A photometric study of the minor planet 63 Ausonia

Photoelectric observations of the minor planet 63 Ausonia were obtained on 12 nights during the 1976 opposition at the Astronomical Observatory of Torino. A complete lightcurve with two maxima and two minima was observed with a maximum amplitude of 0.47 mag. The synodic period of rotation, never before determined photoelectrically, was found to be 9^h17^m48^s ± 5^s. The absolute magnitude of the primary maximum, V₀(1, 0) = 7.49 mag, and the phase coefficient, β_v = 0.035 mag/deg, were deduced by the magnitude-phase relation. Comparison with other observations is briefly discussed and a mean radius is determined from a previous value of the geometric albedo.     

Radar observations and a physical model of Asteroid 1580 Betulia

We report Arecibo (2380-MHz, 13-cm) observations of Asteroid 1580 Betulia in May-June 2002. We combine these continuous-wave Doppler spectra and delay-Doppler images with optical lightcurves from the 1976 and 1989 apparitions in order to estimate Betulia's shape and spin vector. We confirm the spin vector solution of Kaasalainen et al. [Kaasalainen, M., and 21 colleagues, 2004. Icarus 167, 178-196], with sidereal period P=6.13836 h and ecliptic pole direction (λ,β)=(136°,+22°), and obtain a model that resembles the Kaasalainen et al. convex-definite shape reconstruction but is dominated by a prominent concavity in the southern hemisphere. We find that Betulia has a maximum breadth of 6.59±0.66 km and an effective diameter of 5.39±0.54 km. These dimensions are in accord with reanalyzed polarimetric and radar data from the 1970s. Our effective diameter is 15% larger than the best radiometric estimate of Harris et al. [Harris, A.W., Mueller, M., Delbó, M., Bus, S.J., 2005. Icarus 179, 95-108], but this difference is much smaller than the size differences between past models. Considering orbits of test particles around Betulia, we find that this asteroid's unusual shape results in six equilibrium points close to its equatorial plane rather than the usual four points; two of these six points represent stable synchronous orbits while four are unstable. Betulia's close planetary encounters can be predicted for over four thousand years into the future.     

The pole orientation of asteroid 433 Eros determined by photometric astrometry

Refinements to the pole-determination method photometric astrometry (PA) were completed in 1983 (R. C. Taylor and E. F. Tedesco, 1983, Icarus54, 13–22). A goal is to redo the pole analysis for every asteroid whose pole had been determined from earlier versions of PA: Previous PA poles are reviewed in this paper. Asteroid 433 Eros is in that collection and has redone. The result are prograde rotation; a sidereal period of 0.219588 ± 0.000005 day; and a north pole at 22° longitude, +9° latitude. The uncertainty of the pole is 10°. The pole position of Eros determined by C.D. Vesely (1971, In Physical Studies of Minor Planets (T. Gehrels, Ed.), pp. 133–140, NASA SP-267) and Dunlap (1976, Icarus28, 69–78), using earlier versions of photometric astrometry, were within 21 and 7°, respectively, of the present result.     

Photoelectric photometry of 17 asteroids

Seventeen asteroids were observed photoelectrically in the V band at the Torino Observatory in 1983–1984 as part of the coordinated campaign for pole determinations. The obtained lightcurves allowed us to deduce new pole coordinates of four objects, while for the other three a check of previous results was possible. Additionally, the ambiguity for the rotation period of 776 Berbericia was solved in favor of a shorter value, and the importance of this problem was evidenced once more after analyzing the lightcurves of 69 Hesperia and 349 Dembowska. A new possible value of the period of 121 Hermione was also suggested.     

Asteroid 532 Herculina: Lightcurves,pole orientation and a model

Photoelectric lightcurves of 532 Herculina in 1984 show two maxima and two minima with a synodic rotation period of 0.39185 ± 0.00002 day (1σ). During some other oppositions the Herculina lightcurve has only one maximum and one minimum over that same rotation period. The absolute magnitude in V is 6.13 ± 0.02 mag, the phase coefficient in V is 0.037 ± 0.002, and the mean colors are B−V = +0.86 ± 0.04 and U−B = +0.43 ± 0.02. We applied photometric astrometry and the results indicate a sideral period of 0.3918711 ± 0.0000001 day with retrograde rotation for a north pole at 276° long and +1° lat. The uncertainty of the pole is ±1°. A model of Herculina is presented that generates lightcurves consistent with both the observed amplitudes and the timings of extrema over precisely 28,630 sideral rotations during 30 years. The model is a sphere with two dark regions that are each about 0.13 times the brightness of the surrounding surface. The regions are at 0° asterocentric longitude, +15° lat, with a radius of 30°, and 170° long, −38° lat, with a radius of 26°. With the photometric astrometry pole and the model with two dark regions, predicted lightcurves are shown for the next four oppositions.     

Pulsar VLBI experiment with the Kashima (Japan)–Kalyazin (Russia) baseline

The position of PSR0329+54 on the International Celestial Reference Frame was measured at epochs March 1995, May 1996, and May 1998. Our observations detected the proper motion of PSR0329+54. The position and proper motion agreed well with the position determined by Bartel et al. (1985). From combined analysis with our data and that of Bartel, the proper motion of PSR0329+54 was determined: μ_α=+17.4±0.3 mas yr⁻¹, μ_δ=−11.0±0.3 mas yr⁻¹. These results are consistent with the value by Harrison et al. (1993)measured with the MERLIN interferometer. We also determined the coordinates of PSR0329+54 very accurately within the ICRF: α=03^h32^m59^s.3761±0^s.0002, δ=54°34′43′′.5119±0′′.0015 at 1995.     

Physical properties of Asteroid (25143) Itokawa—Target of the Hayabusa sample return mission

We present results of a ground-based observational study of the Hayabusa mission target near-Earth Asteroid (25143) Itokawa. Our data consist of BVRI-filter CCD photometry and low resolution CCD spectroscopy, from which the asteroid's rotation period, axial ratio, broadband colors, and taxonomic classification are derived. Analysis of the R-filter lightcurve data shows a synodic rotation period of 12.12±0.02 h, consistent with results from other observers. We observed a maximum peak-to-peak amplitude of 1.05 magnitudes, which—depending on the taxonomic class assumed when correcting for phase angle effects—implies a minimum axial ratio of 2.14. The shape of the rotation lightcurves varies considerably between data sets due to the changing viewing geometry. The lightcurve data from this study has been included in the shape model analysis of Kaasalainen et al. (2003 Astron. Astrophys, 405, L29-L32) and the Hapke analysis of Lederer et al. (2005 Icarus 173,153-165). Color variations were also observed, with the interpolated color indices at lightcurve midpoint being: (B-V)=0.94±0.05, (V-R)=0.40±0.06, and (V-I)=0.74±0.07. Our low resolution Palomar spectra from March 2001 covered a wavelength range of 0.3-1.0 μm. We measured a spectral slope of 9.3±0.3%/100 nm between 0.55-0.70 μm and a deep 1 μm absorption (equivalent ECAS color: w-x=−0.111±0.003, v-x=0.031±0.003). Comparison of our spectra with published ECAS data from Zellner et al. (1985 Icarus 61, 355-416) indicates that this object is most likely of Q- or S-type, similar to ordinary chondrite meteorites. Our data are more consistent with a Q-type body when both the spectroscopic data and the available BVRI photometry are taken into account.     

An Abridged Model of the Precession–Nutation of the Celestial Pole

Precise astrometric observations show that significant systematic differences of the order of 10 milliarcseconds (mas) exist between the observed position of the celestial pole in the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF) and the position determined using the International Astronomical Union (IAU) 1976 Precession (Lieske et al., 1977) and the IAU 1980 Nutation Theory (Seidelmann, 1982). The International Earth Rotation Service routinely publishes these 'celestial pole offsets', and the IERS Conventions (McCarthy, 1996) recommends a procedure to account for these errors. The IAU, at its General Assembly in 2000, adopted a new precession/nutation model (Mathews et al., 2002). This model, designated IAU2000A, which includes nearly 1400 terms, provides the direction of the celestial pole in the ICRF with an accuracy of ±0.1 mas. Users requiring accuracy no better than 1 mas, however, may not require the full model, particularly if computational time or storage are issues. Consequently, the IAU also adopted an abridged procedure designated IAU2000B to model the celestial pole motion with an accuracy that does not result in a difference greater than 1 mas with respect to that of the IAU2000A model. That IAU2000B model, presented here, is shown to have the required accuracy for a period of more than 50 years from 1995 to 2050.     

Latitudinal gradients in the electron temperature of the lower F-region at mid- to low latitudes

In this paper we present the results of a study of the thermal balance of the lower F-region at mid- to low latitudes. By using a mathematical model with input data based on in situ measurements along AE-C orbits 457, 666 and 677 (26 January, 1974, 14 February, 1974 and 15 February, 1974, respectively) we demonstrate that electron heat conduction along the magnetic field lines has to be included in the model if good agreement between the calculated and observed electron temperatures is to be achieved. This gives support to the suggestion made by Hoegy and Brace (1978), that the discrepancy in the shape of the electron heating and electron cooling rate distributions reported by Brace et al. (1976) resulted mainly from neglecting heat conduction in the electron gas. In addition, our results indicate that the currently used plasma heating and plasma cooling rates and the photoelectron heating rates calculated by Brace et al. (1976) for the orbits used in this study are consistent with the AE-C in situ measurements.     

The celestial pole coordinates

The coordinates of the Celestial Ephemeris Pole in the Celestial Reference System (CRS) can advantageously replace the classical precession and nutation parameters in the matrix transformation of vector components from the CRS to the Terrestrial Reference System (TRS). This paper shows that the new matrix transformation using these coordinates in place of the preceding parameters would be conceptually more simple, especially when associated with the use of the non-rotating origin on the instantaneous equator (Guinot 1979, Capitaine et al. 1986) and of a celestial reference frame as realized by positions of extragalactic sources. In such a representation, the artificial separation between precession and nutation is avoided and the practical computation of the matrix transformation only requires the knowledge of the two celestial direction cosines of the pole, instead of the large number of the quantities generally considered. The development of these coordinates is given as function of time so that their use is equivalent (when using the CRS defined by the mean pole and mean equinox of epoch J2000.0, the 1976 IAU System of Astronomical Constants and the 1980 IAU theory of nutation) to the one of the conventional series for the precession (Lieske et al. 1977) and nutation (Seidelmann 1982) parameters. Such a theoretical development should also be used in order to derive more directly the numerical coefficients of the celestial motion of the instantaneous equator from very precise observations such as VLBI.

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Résumé Les coordonnées du Pôle Céleste des Ephémerides dans le Systeme de Référence Céleste (CRS) pourraient remplacer avantageusement les paramètres classiques de precession et de nutation dans la matrice de transformation entre le CRS et le Système de Référence Terrestre (TRS). Cet article montre que la nouvelle matrice de transformation utilisant ces coordonnées à la place des paramètres classiques serait ainsi conceptuellement plus simple, en particulier lorsque l'on utilise l'origine non-tournante sur l'équa-teur instantané (Guinot 1979, Capitaine et al. 1986), ainsi que le repère de référence céleste réalisé par les positions des radiosources extragalactiques. Une telle representation évite la séparation artificielle entre précession et nutation et le calcul de la matrice de transformation correspondante ne nécessite que la connaissance des deux cosinus directeurs du pole dans le repère céleste, au lieu du grand nombre de paramètres considérés généralement. Le dèveloppement de ces coordonnées en fonction du temps est donné de façon à ce que leur usage soit équivalent (lorsque l'on se rapporte au CRS défine par le pôle et l'équinoxe moyens de l'époque J2000.0, au Système de Constantes Astronomiques IAU-1976, ainsi qu'au modèle UAI-1980 de la nutation) à celui des séries conventionnelles de la precession (Lieske et al. 1977) et de la nutation (Seidelmann 1982). Un tel développement théorique devrait également être utilise pour déterminer plus directement les coefficients numériques du déplacement céleste de l'équateur instantané, à partir des observations très précises, comme par exemple, les observations VLBI.

     

Martian occultation of ϵ Gem as observed from the C. E. Kenneth Mees observatory

Ground-based observations of the occultation of ? Gem by Mars on April 8, 1976 have been reduced in the manner of French et al. [Icarus 33, 186–202 (1978)] to yield the scale height and temperature profiles of the Martian atmosphere for number densities between 10¹³ and 10¹⁵ cm^?3. The deduced variations in temperature are remarkably similar to those obtained by Elliot et al. [Astrophys. J.217, 661–679 (1977)] and to the in situ measurements from the Viking landers.     

Photoelectric lightcurves of the asteroid 1862 Apollo

Photoelectric lightcurves of the asteroid 1862 Apollo were obtained in November–December 1980 and in April–May 1982. The period of rotation is unambiguously determined to be 3.0655 ± 0.0008 hr. The 1980 observations span a range of solar phase angle from 30° to 90°, and the 1982 observations, 0.°2 to 90°. The Lumme-Bowell-Harris phase relation can be fit to the absolute magnitudes at maximum light with an RMS scatter of 0.06 magnitude over the entire range of phase angle. The constants of the solution are absolute V magnitude at zero phase angle and at maximum light, 16.23 ± 0.02; slope parameter, 0.23 ± 0.01. These constant corresponds to values in the linear phase coefficient system of V(1, 0) = 16.50 ± 0.02 and a phase coefficient of β_v = 0.0305 ± 0.0012 mag/degree in the phase range 10°–20°. The slope of the phase curve is typical for a moderate albedo asteroid. The absolute magnitudes observed in 1980 and 1982 fall along a common phase curve. That is, Apollo was not intrinsically brighter at one apparition than the other. This is not surprising, since the two apparitions were almost exactly opposite one another in the sky. A pole position was calculated from the observed deviation of the lightcurve from constant periodicity (synodic-sidereal difference) during both apparitions. The computed 1950 ecliptic coordinates of the pole are: longitude = 56°, latitude = −26°. This is the “north” pole with respect to right-handed (counter-clockwise) rotation. The formal uncertainty of the solution for the pole position is less than 10°, but realistically may be several times that, or even completely wrong. The sidereal period of rotation asscociated with this pole solution is 3.065436 ± 0.000012 hr.     

A Method to Determine the Solar Synodic Rotation Rate and the Height of Tracers

The dependence of the measured apparent synodic solar rotation rate on the height of the chosen tracer is studied. A significant error occurs if the rotation rate is determined by tracing the apparent position of an object above the photospheric level projected on the solar disc. The centre-to-limb variation of this error can be used to determine simultaneously the height of the object and the true synodic rotation rate. The apparent (projected) heliographic coordinates are presented as a function of the height of the traced object and the coordinates of its footpoint. The relations obtained provide an explicit expression for the apparent rotation rate as a function of the observed heliographic coordinates of the tracer, enabling an analytic least-squares fit expression to determine simultaneously the real synodic rotation rate and the height of the tracer.     

2 Pallas: 1982 and 3 lightcurves and a new pole solution

Photoelectric lightcurves of asteroid 2 Pallas obtained in March 1982 and May 1983 display amplitudes of 0.04 and 0.10 magnitude respectively. The latter lightcurve shows that Pallas was at a V(1,0) magnitude of 4.51 ± 0.02 when it occulted 1 Vulpeculae on May 29 1983. A least-squares best fit to an amplitude-aspect relation for all available lightcurve observations of Pallas between 1951 and 1983 yields two solutions for its pole position: λ = 200, β = 40 and λ = 220, β = 15, where the uncertainty regions corresponds to an overall estimate of ± degrees. Use of phase angle bisector coordinates (A. W. Harris, J. W. Young, F. Scaltriti, and V. Zappalà (1984) Icarus57, 251–258) gave lower residuals than geocentric coordinates. The (220,15) pole position is favored since it is in very good agreement with an independent pole solution obtained by photometric astrometry (J. V. Lambert 1983 personal communication). This pole position implies that the latitude of the sub-Earth point at the time of the occultation was 22 degrees.