Minor planet photometry
The research
Hundreds thousand minor planets are catalogued, well revolution around the Sun parameters are known for all of them, but only a few thousand are known parameters of rotation around its axis. These can be determined by performing long photometric telescope observing sessions devoting a minor planet more nights. While the planets have a shape that deviates slightly from the sphere, the planets have a very irregular shape. If we could observe them closely during the rotation, they show us a front surface always different instead of the classic circular disc. Changing the front surface also changes the amount of light reflected from the Sun. Making photometric measurements on their brightness is observed that the light varies cyclically in time. By identifying the time when the light variation is repeated, identifies the period of rotation.
The observatory of Bassano Bresciano began working in this field of research in 2007, first by refining the technique
on minor planets of which was known the rotation period. Once able to reproduce the light curves available in
literature has turned to target with unknown rotational parameters.
The light curves
These are the light curves found by the Bassano Bresciano Observatory
