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Old 25-08-2010, 12:08 AM
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AstroJunk (Jonathan)
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Moonee Beach
Posts: 1,945
That looks great David,

I'm certainly planning to spend some time looking at the variable nature of asteroids myself (once my house is finished and I can spend more time at the observatory!). My interst in this area was sparked when I captured a graze occultation of 32 Pomona which blinked out twice and which suggested something more than the simple model that had been produced from its light curve.

I think it would be good idea to do some co-ordinated research on asteroids that are known variables, both photometrically and occulting.

Out of interest, do you know what is the smallest that an asteroid can be to capture a moon? This will be directly linked to the rotational period of course! I guess something like a rubble pile like the tiny (700m)Itakawa or bizarly shaped Hertha at 100km would give similarly complex light curves (and I stress GUESS). Ultimately, untill they turn the radar onto them, we can only speculate!
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