Preliminary results of the long-term program on photometry and polarimetry of main-belt and near-Earth asteroids

• Investigation of dynamical and physical properties of the main-belt and near-Earth asteroids is a priority research area, which has reached a new level in recent years. This progress has been facilitated by space missions to asteroids as well as modern all-sky surveys aimed to discover new objects which also provide highly accurate astrometric and photometric data. However, the role of ground-based programs remains valuable. The long-term monitoring program is crucial for retrieving asteroid physical properties and its evolution.
• The primary aim of our Project is obtaining new observational data of asteroids by carrying out their spectrophotometric (Shevchenko et al. 2022) and polarimetric (Belskaya, Krugly 2024) observations which allow us to determine absolute magnitudes, rotation periods, surfaces properties, albedo, sizes and shapes of these objects. Our observations are based on cooperation with colleagues from different observatories in several countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, Chili, USA) with using the 0.6 - 2 m telescopes which are equipped with modern CCD cameras. Our priority targets include newly discovered and potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids, binary asteroids, especially those observed by Gaia, objects studied through radar observations, and targets of ongoing and future space missions (Hayabusa2#, Hera etc). During January-April 2025, new photometric observations of over 40 NEAs (4 newly discovered, 17 PHAs, for 18 the rotation periods were determined for the first time) and 8 known main-belt binary asteroids were carried out, as well as polarimetric observations of 2 NEAs were obtained at high phase angles. Preliminary results of our new and long-term observations will be presented.

 

Acknowledgments

The Kharkiv team is thankful to Ukrainian soldiers who defend our lives and freedom against russian aggression. YK thanks the French PAUSE program for its support of scientists at risk.

 

References

• Shevchenko, V. G., I. N. Belskaya, I. G. Slyusarev, O. I. Mikhalchenko, Yu. N. Krugly et al. 2022. Kharkiv database of asteroid absolute magnitudes: Comparative analysis with other datasets. 2022A&A...666A.190S
• Belskaya I., Y. Krugly. 2024. Study of near-Earth asteroids by polarimetric technique. Report on “EU-ESA Workshop on Size Determination of Potentially Hazardous Near-Earth Objects”, 11–13 Nov 2024, Darmstadt, Germany.