Light curves of the trans-Neptunian objects 1996 TP66 and 1994 VK8 |
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| Authors: | S. J. Collander-Brown A. Fitzsimmons E. Fletcher M. J. Irwin I. P. Williams |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Queens University, Belfast BT7 1NN; Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge University, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA; Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary and Westfield College, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS |
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| Abstract: | We have obtained a number of CCD images of two trans-Neptunian objects, 1994 VK8 and 1996 TP66, over two nights. The changes in magnitude of these objects have been examined, in a search for periodic variation. In the case of 1996 TP66, nothing other than random noise can be found to within the errors of ∼0.04 mag. Although a periodic signal is found for 1994 VK8, it appears to be an artefact, as the same frequency appears in the variation of sky brightness and is probably due to the sampling of the data. However, 1994 VK8 does exhibit a variation of ∼0.5 mag. This would suggest either significant non-sphericity or a change in surface composition over a large area. In either case 1994 VK8 warrants further investigation. |
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| Keywords: | techniques: photometric comets: general |
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