21st Annual Student Research Conference
Lightcurve Analysis of Three Main Belt Asteroids
Jacob A. Hummel* and Harold Moore
Dr. Matthew M. Beaky, Faculty Mentor
Minor planets, or asteroids, were formed during the solar system's earliest stages of development. As a result, they are composed of some of the oldest matter in the solar system, and a more complete database of asteroid information may give astronomers insight into conditions in the solar system during its infancy. As asteroids rotate, the amount of sunlight they reflect back towards the Earth varies due to their irregular shape. Measuring the amount of light reflected by a minor planet allows us to determine its light curve and thus its rotational period. Three asteroids were observed using an SBIG ST-402ME CCD camera and Truman's 14 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, as well as with the 31 inch National Undergraduate Research Observatory telescope at Lowell Observatory. Results for the asteroids 3285 Ruth Wolfe, 398 Admete and 3036 Krat will be discussed.
Keywords: asteroid, lightcurve, photometry, astrophysics, astronomy
Topic(s):Physics
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 11-1
Location: VH 1416
Time: 8:15