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M. Kaasalainen, J. Torppa, J. Piironen (Observatory, University of Helsinki)
We are in the process of analyzing the photometric asteroid lightcurves collected in the Uppsala Photometric Catalogue (now in its fifth update) using modern deconvolution techniques. We have obtained detailed physical models for a number of asteroids, and expect the total number of models based on the already existing data to be of order one hundred; the number should steadily increase along with new data.
We present here an overview of the results of our survey so far. Our sample includes both main-belt and near-Earth asteroids. Shape irregularity clearly increases as the asteroid size decreases; smaller asteroids each seem to have a character of their own. An interesting feature is the existence of some asymmetric/bifurcated shapes among large and intermediate-size asteroids. Only a few asteroids exhibit significant albedo variegation (i.e., albedo features having an effect on the total brightness on a level comparable to shape characteristics). We have constructed combined shape and albedo models for such targets.
We also hope to have analyzed the lightcurve data of the MUSES-C target 2000 SF36 by the time of the meeting. This is contingent upon our receiving the data from the large number of observers participating in the campaign in time (observer credits to be included accordingly).
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: mikko.kaasalainen@astro.helsinki.fi