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J. E. Thomas-Osip (Las Campanas Obs.), S. M. Lederer (Cal State Univ. SB and NASA JSC), D. J. Osip (Las Campanas Obs.), F. Vilas (NASA JSC), S. L. Gill (Cal State Univ. SB), K. Jarvis (Lockheed-Martin Space Operations)
An extensive visible and near-IR observing campaign of Itokawa was undertaken from Las Campanas Observatory in Chile during the recent 2004 close approach yielding 18 nights of UBVRI photometric observations with simultaneous JHK observations on 9 of those nights. The 2004 apparition was superb with Itokawa reaching magnitude 12 (two magnitudes brighter than the 2001 apparition) and covering a much larger range of observable phase angles. The visible observations were made using the Swope 1 meter telescope and the near-IR observations were made using the duPont 2.5 meter telescope. Throughout June and July 2004, the entire rotational period and phase angles between 11-90 degrees were sampled. Additionally, we were able to extend the phase angle coverage to include 4 degrees and 130 degrees in January and early June respectively by obtaining BVRI observations with the Magellan 6.5 meter telescopes. This paper focuses on the combined multi-wavelength (UBVRIJHK) rotational light curve and the search for any color variability that would allow for the concrete deconvolution of shape from albedo variation in the rotational models. The phase curve and subsequent Hapke modeling is presented separately (c.f S. M. Lederer et al. this meeting).
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #4
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.