• Introduction 4

• Data acquisition and analysis 8

• Results 17

• Conclusion 24

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 2

• MAIN GOALS:• determination of asteroids’ physical

characteristics - rotation periods and shapes

• SIDE GOALS:

• using a remote telescope

• observation planning and candidate selection

• CCD imaging techniques and image reduction

• dynamics of minor bodies of the Solar system

• astrometry of comets and reporting to the MPC

• familiarising with the southern sky

3ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011

Messier 8, 150 sec RGB composite, 2011-08-04, San Pedro de Atacama

• asteriods - small celestial bodies that are orbiting around the Sun

• asteroid belt – between Mars and Jupiter

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 4

• divided in about 35 groups by differences in their orbits

• NEO (Near Earth Object)

• MBA (Main Belt Asteroid)

• Trojans

• Hildas

• TNO

• …

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 5

• ASTROMETRY = precise measurements of the positions and movements of celestial bodies

• PHOTOMETRY = measuring luminous intensity

• using photometry we can find out shape of the asteroid, rotation period and constitution

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 6

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 7

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 8

• online database of all minor bodies of the Solar system

• it is used for reporting new asteroid data and contains all orbital informations about known objects in our Solar system

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 9

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 11San Pedro de Atacama

• Instrument: ASH2

• D = 407 mm

• F = 1510 mm, f/3,7

• Mount: AP1200

• CCD: STL11000XMC1

• Field of view: ~ 1º×1,5º

• Site: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

• Distance from Višnjan: ~11300 km

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 12

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 13

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 14

reduced frame

dark frame

raw frame

flat field

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 15

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 16

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 17

• Aug 10/11/17, 2011

• Period: 3,39 ± 0,01h

Mag

nitu

de c

hang

e

Synodic phase

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 18

Synodic phase

• Aug 10/11/12, 2011

• Period: 15.73 ± 0.77 h

Mag

nitu

de c

hang

e

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 19

• Aug 11/12/13/14 2011.

• Period: 16,31 ± 0,54 h

Mag

nitu

de c

hang

e

Synodic phase

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 20

• Jul 25/26/28, 2011Jul 25/26/28, 2011

• Period: 16.3 ± 0.1hPeriod: 16.3 ± 0.1h

Synodic phase

Mag

nitu

de c

hang

e

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011

213 P/Van Ness

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011

• observed for 7 clear nights

• effective exposure time: 92 430 s = 154,5 min = 25,7 h

• total amount data: 29,5 GB = 1027 images

• made light curves and determined rotation periods of 4 asteroids

• done astrometry of 3 asteroids and 1 comet

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 23

We have learned

• about asteroids

• controling the telescope remotely

• photometric and astrometric analysing the data

We have succeeded to determine the rotation period of asteroids

The moon was the main problem of our observing !!!

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 24

ASTEROID PHOTOMETRY GROUP, VSA 2011 25

CONTACTS:Danko Marušić – matesonik@yahoo.comStefan Cikota – stefan.cikota@gmail.comRajna Racz – rajna-chibimoon@hotmail.comKlaudija Molnar – klaudija.molnar@gmail.comMateja Šola - mateja.teja.sola@gmail.comVasilije Perović – vasko1996@gmail.com

FINAL PRESENTATION ON VSA 201117. 08. 2011.VISNJAN