11
ROTATIONAL PERIOD DETERMINATION
Acknowledgements
The Astronomical Observatory of the Autonomous Region of the
Aosta Valley (OAVdA) is managed by the Fondazione Clement
Fillietroz-ONLUS, which is supported by the Regional
Government of the Aosta Valley, the Town Municipality of Nus
and the “Unité des Communes valdôtaines Mont-Émilius”. The
research was partially funded by a 2016 “Research and Education”
grant from Fondazione CRT. Research at OAVdA was also
supported by the 2013 Shoemaker NEO Grant and made use of the
NASA's Astrophysics Data System. Work at the
“G.V.Schiaparelli” Astronomical Observatory was supported by
the 2015 Shoemaker NEO Grant.
References
Carbognani, A., Calcidese, P. (2007). “Lightcurve and Rotational
Period of Asteroids 1456 Saldanha, 2294 Andronikov and 2006
NM.” Minor Planet Bulletin, 34, 18-19.
Harris, A.W., Young, J.W., Scaltriti, F., Zappala, V. (1984).
“Lightcurves and phase relations of the asteroids 82 Alkmene and
444 Gyptis.” Icarus 57, 251-258.
Harris, A.W., Young, J.W., Bowell, E., Martin, L.J., Millis, R.L.,
Poutanen, M., Scaltriti, F., Zappala, V., Schober, H.J., Debehogne,
H., Zeigler, K. (1989). “Photoelectric Observations of Asteroids 3,
24, 60, 261, and 863.” Icarus 77, 171-186.
Pravec, P., Harris, A.W. (2000). “Fast and Slow Rotation of
Asteroids.” Icarus 148, 12-20.
Warner, B.D. (2007). “Initial Results of a Dedicated H-G
Program.” Minor Planet Bul. 34, 113-119.
Warner, B.D. (2009). MPO Software, MPO Canopus. Bdw
Publishing. http://minorplanetobserver.com/
Minor Planet Bulletin 45 (2018)
OF TWO MARS CROSSING, A MAIN BELT ASTEROID
AND A PHA: (14309) DEFOY, (56116) 1999 CZ7,
(5813) EIZABURO AND (3122) FLORENCE
Angelo Tomassini, Maurizio Scardella,
Francesco Franceschini, Fernando Pierri
ATA (Associazione Tuscolana di Astronomia)
"F. Fuligni" Observatory (MPC D06)
Via Lazio, 14 - Rocca di Papa (RM) - 00040 – ITALY
nikkor5@gmail.com
(Received: 2017 Sep 27 Revised: 2017 Oct 21)
The main-belt asteroids (5813) Eizaburo and two Mars
crossing minor bodies, (14309) Defoy and (56116) 1999
CZ7, have been observed over several nights throughout
2017 March-September in order to determine their
synodic rotational period. We also took the opportunity
of the (3122) Florence close passage with the Earth in
September-October to find its lightcurve.
The observations of the analyzed asteroids were carried out from
F. Fuligni Observatory using a 0.35-m f/10 ACF telescope and
SBIG ST8-XE CCD camera with Clear filter and from
Franceschini’s equipment using a 9.25" f/6.3 reflector telescope
equipped with Atik 314L- CCD camera with Clear filter. All
images were dark and flat-field calibrated with Maxim DL.
Differential photometry and period analysis was done using MPO
Canopus (Warner, 2012).
3122 Florence. This asteroid, discovered from the Siding Spring
observatory at the beginning of the ‘80s, belongs to the Amor
family and is classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA).
A diameter of 4.9 Km makes it one of the biggest PHA known.
Its orbit, resonant with the Earth, brings this big object close to our
planet every ~40 years and the 2017 passage is the closest for at
least the next 160 years. During this close flyby a radar
observation has shown the presence of 2 natural moons with
diameters of around 180-240m and 300-360m. Our measurements
have been taken since the first days of September (8 sessions in
total) but only the last observations have been used for the
lightcurve, fitting these data more coherently with the known
asteroid properties. We found a synodic period of P = 2.36 ± 0.01
h and an amplitude of A = 0.14 mag (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Lightcurve of 3122 Florence. Period P = 2.36h ± 0.01 h.
12

5813 Eizaburo. This Main Belt Asteroid (also called 1988 VL)
was discovered in 1988 by Takuo Kojima. Its semi-major axis is
2.60 AU and the inclination is 11.24º. The observations lasted
more than one month, from the Franceschini’s equipment and
from the "F. Fuligni" Observatory have confirmed a synodic
period of P = 2.93 ± 0.01 h and an amplitude of A = 0.26 mag
(Figure 2).
(56116) 1999 CZ7. Discovered in 1999 at Socorro (New Mexico),
this minor body is classified as Mars Crossing Asteroid, having a
perihelion (1.6653 AU) barely lower than the Mars aphelion
(1.666 AU). Its aphelion is about 2.97 AU while the orbital period
is 3.53 years. The observations of this asteroid have been carried
out by our team during March-April 2017 over four nights. The
resulting lightcurve has a synodic period of P = 3.12 ± 0.01 h and
amplitude of 0.27 mag (Figure 4).

Figure 2. The lightcurve of 5813 Eizaburo. The period found is P =

2.93 ± 0.01 h with an amplitude of 0.26 mag.
14309 Defoy. Discovered by J. Palisa in 1908 in Vienna, this
asteroid is a Mars Crossing Asteroid with a semi-major axis of
2.60 AU and 0.447 as eccentricity. The observations carried out
from "F. Fuligni" Observatory and from Francesco Franceschini
during four nights in June 2017 allowed us to derive the synodic
period of P = 3.4 ± 0.1 h with an amplitude of A = 0.16 mag
(Figure 3).
Figure 4. The lightcurve of (56116) 1999 CZ7 with a period P = 3.12
± 0.01 h with an amplitude A = 0.27 mag.
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank Simone Nodari and Samuele Piscitello for
their help in taking the images and for the maintenance tasks of
the ATA observatory instruments.
References

Warner, B.D. (2012). The MPO Software, Canopus version

10.4.1.9. Bdw Publishing, http://minorplanetobserver.com/

Warner, B.D. (2012). The MPO User Guide: A Companion Guide

To The MPO Canopus/PhotoRed Reference Manual. BDW
Publishing, Colorado Spring, CO.

Warner, B.D. (2017). “Lightcurve Photometry Opportunities: Jan-

Mar 2017”. Minor Planet Bulletin 44-1.

Warner, B.D. (2017) “Lightcurve Photometry Opportunities:

April-June 2017”. Minor Planet Bulletin 44-2.

http://www.MinorPlanet.info/PHP/call_OppLCDBQuery.php

Figure 3. The lightcurve of 14309 Defoy with a period P = 3.4 ± 0.1

h with an amplitude A = 0.16 mag.

Number Name 2016 mm/dd Pts Phase LPAB BPAB Period(h) P.E. Amp A.E. Grp
3122 Florence 10/13-10/20 413 73.5,70.2 36 52 2.36 0.01 0.14 0.02 NEA
5813 Eizaburo 08/23-09/21 363 7.0,12.1 338 8 2.93 0.01 0.26 0.05 MBA
14309 Defoy 06/13-06/21 259 14.6,19.8 249 11 3.4 0.1 0.16 0.05 MC
56116 1999 CZ7 03/22-04/22 249 6.4,22.0 182 -12 3.12 0.01 0.27 0.05 MC
Table I. Observing circumstances and results. Pts is the number of data points. The phase angle is given for the first and last date. LPAB and
BPAB are the approximate phase angle bisector longitude and latitude at mid-date range (see Harris et al., 1984). Grp is the asteroid
family/group (Warner et al., 2009). MC = Mars Crosser, MBA = Main Belt Asteroid, NEA = Near Earth Asteroid.

Minor Planet Bulletin 45 (2018)


LIGHTCURVE ANALYSIS OF MINOR PLANETS
OBSERVED AT THE OAKLEY SOUTHERN SKY
OBSERVATORY: 2016 OCTOBER – 2017 MARCH
Richard Ditteon, Andre Adam, Michael Doyel, Jared Gibson,
Stephanie Lee, Dylan Linville, Danielle Michalik, Rhiannon
Turner, Kyle Washburn
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, CM 171
5500 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47803, USA
ditteon@rose-hulman.edu
(Received: 2017 Sep 11)
From 2016 October 28 to 2017 March 9, CCD images
were taken with the goal of analyzing the photometric
data on 34 minor planets: 393 Lampetia, 395 Delia, 838
Seraphina, 874 Rotraut, 1114 Lorraine, 1128 Astrid,
1465 Autonoma, 1529 Oterma, 1722 Goffin, 1773
Rumpelstilz, 1903 Adzhimushkaj, 2685 Masursky, 2916
Voronveliya, 2928 Epstein, 2973 Paola, 3032 Evans,
3104 Durer, 3224 Irkutsk, 3532 Tracie, 3569 Kumon,
4112 Hrabal, 4512 Sinuhe, 4695 Mediolanum, 4945
Ikenozenni, 5240 Kwasan, 5625 Jamesferguson, 6199
Yoshiokayayoi, 7001 Noether, 11127 Hagi, 11441
Anadiego, 15267 Kolyma, (18429) 1994 AO1, (24814)
1994 VW1, and (326683) 2002 WP.
Lightcurve analysis of 34 asteroids was performed using images
taken at the Oakley Southern Sky Observatory in New South
Wales, Australia. Images were taken on the nights of 2016
October 28, 31, November 1-7, 10, 18-27, 30, December 1-5, 7, 9-
10 and 2017 January 19, 21-25, 27, February 3-7, 17-24, 26-27,
March 3, 8-9. We used a 0.5-meter Planewave with an STX-16803
camera, binned 3x3, using a luminance filter. The telescope
operated at f/6.71 with a plate scale of 1.63 arcseconds per pixel.
The images obtained were calibrated using MaxIm DL. Image
measuring and lightcurve creation were done with MPO Canopus.
Table I lists the observing circumstances as well as our analysis
results. We were unable to determine rotation periods for many of
our targets as poor weather, equipment, and software problems
prevented us from acquiring sufficient, high-quality data.
Additional comments on individual minor planets are given
below.
395 Delia. Our period of 18.98 ± 0.02 h does not match the period
of 19.71 ± 0.02 h found by Behrend (2001). The period of 19.71 h
attempts to force the two peaks we found into one peak, but the
data did not line up well in time.
874 Rotraut. Our period of 14.297 ± 0.006 h does not agree with
the period of 14.586 ± 0.003 h found by Behrend (2002).
1114 Lorraine. Our period of 20.71 ± 0.02 h does not agree with
the period of 33 h found by Behrend (2005).
1128 Astrid. The data collected for this minor planet were not
sufficient to determine a rotational period with any certainty. We
can fit our data to the period of 10.228 ± 0.002 h found by
Behrend (2005), but we get a better fit with our period of 14.552 ±
0.011 h.
1465 Autonoma. Our period of 4.882 ± 0.002 hours agrees within
experimental uncertainty with the period found by Brinsfield
(2008) of 4.88 ± 0.01 h.
Minor Planet Bulletin 45 (2018)
13
1529 Oterma. Our data cannot be fit to the period of
8.956 ± 0.002 h found by Warner et al. (2017).
1722 Goffin. Our data resulted in a period of 29.19 ± 0.02 h,
which is within the error bounds given by Pravec (1984) on his
period of 28.8 +1/–0.5 h.
3104 Durer. Our period of 6.325 ± 0.003 h agrees within
experimental uncertainty with the period found by Brinsfield
(2011) of 6.327 ± 0.001 h.
4112 Hrabal. Behrend (2006) reports a period of 10 ± 7 h. Our
result of 9.298 ± 0.008 h fits within that range.
4945 Ikenozenni. Our period of 22.43 ± 0.03 h doesn’t quite
overlap with the period of 22.501 ± 0.009 h found by Salvaggio et
al. (2017).
6199 Yoshiokayayoi. Our period of 3.3731 ± 0.0009 h agrees with
the period of 3.373 ± 0.002 h found by Brincat (2017).
7001 Noether. Our period of 9.5809 ± 0.0009 h agrees with the
period of 9.581 ± 0.007 h found by Waszczak et al. (2015).
15267 Kolyma. Our period of 4.9643 ± 0.0006 h agrees with the
period of 4.9649 ± 0.0001 h found by Pravec (2016).
(326683) 2002 WP. Behrend (2016) reports a period of 6.265 ±
0.001h, Warner (2017) found a period of 6.262 ± 0.005 h and
Sonka (2017) gave a period of 6.28 ± 0.05 h (when significant
figures are given correctly). All of these results overlap with each
other and with our period of 6.263 ± 0.002 h.
References
Behrend, R. (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2016). Observatoire de
Geneve web site.
http://obswww.unige.ch/~behrend/page_cou.html
Brincat, S.M. (2017). “Rotation Period Determination of Asteroids
6199 Yoshiokayayoi and 9671 Hemera.” Minor Planet Bulletin
44, 199-200.
Brinsfield, J.W. (2008). “The Rotation Periods of 1465 Autonoma,
1656 Suomi, 4483 Petofi, 4853 Marielukac, and 85275 1994 LY.”
Minor Planet Bulletin 35, 23-24.
Brinsfield, J.W. (2011). “Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at the Via
Capote Observatory: 4th Quarter 2010.” Minor Planet Bulletin 38,
73-74.
Pravec, P. (1984, 2016). Ondrejov Asteroid Photometry Project
web site. http://www.asu.cas.cz/~ppravec/neo.htm
Salvaggio, F., Marchini, A., Papini, R. (2017). “Asteroid
Lightcurve Analysis at Astronomical Observatory – University of
Siena (Italy): 2016 October-December.” Minor Planet Bulletin 44,
155-156.
Sonka, A.B., Popescu, M., Nedelcu, A., Gherase, R.M., Vas, G.
(2017). “Photometric Observations of the Near-Earth Asteroids
326683 (2002 WP).” Minor Planet Bulletin 44, 176-177.
Warner, B.D. (2017). “Near-Earth Asteroid Lightcurve Analysis at
CS3-Palmer Divide Station: 2016 October-December.” Minor
Planet Bulletin 44, 98-107.