Asteroid Satellites and Spins

AST-0907650 Warner测量来自小行星的光随时间的变化（光变曲线观测）对于那些拥有普通仪器的人来说是更重要和更有成效的研究项目之一，即配备高端商业CCD相机的小型（0.3米至1.0米）望远镜。 虽然仪器可能是简陋的，但对科学的贡献是任何东西，因为从这种观测中可以确定小行星的旋转速率，基于多色测光的分类类别，其绝对星等（以及其近似大小），表面光散射特性，有时甚至是其形状和自旋轴方向的初步指示。 了解这些特征对于有关太阳系内小行星的发展和演变的新理论至关重要，在某种程度上，对太阳系以外的系统也是如此。 迄今为止，该项目已经产生了数百个光变曲线和近12个形状模型，还发现了8个新的双星小行星，其中6个位于内主带，潮汐相遇不能很容易地用来解释双星的形成。 这项研究对于了解小行星对太阳光的热再辐射的两种影响至关重要：Yarkovsky效应改变了小行星轨道的大小，（Yarkovsky-O 'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack）负责调整小行星家族内的自旋轴。该计划通过在《小行星公报》上定期发表文章、电子邮件警报服务、网站（CALL，协作小行星光曲线链接），对“机会目标”观测请求的响应，以及小行星光曲线数据库（LCDB）。 这些活动提高了这项工作的知识价值和更广泛的影响。 这项研究吸引了世界各地教育机构的大量学生和教师，以及公众（“后院天文学家”）参与关键的天文学研究。 为了扩大合格观察员的队伍，该项目包括一系列测光讲习班，提供理论和实践技能，帮助未来可能的参与者作出贡献。

AST-0907650WarnerMeasuring the changes in light from an asteroid over time (lightcurve observations) is one of the more important and productive research projects for those with modest instruments, that is, small (0.3m to 1.0m) telescopes with high-end commercial CCD cameras. While the instrumentation may be humble, the contribution to science is anything but, because from such observations it is possible to determine the rotation rate of an asteroid, its taxonomic class based on multi-color photometry, its absolute magnitude (and thus its approximate size), the surface light scattering properties, and sometimes even an initial indication of its shape and spin axis orientation. Knowledge of these characteristics is critical to new theories regarding the development and evolution of the asteroids within our Solar System and, to some degree, of systems beyond our Sun. To date, this project has generated hundreds of lightcurves and nearly a dozen shape models, and has also discovered eight new binary asteroids, six within the inner main belt where tidal encounters can not be easily used to explain binary formation. This research is critical for understanding two effects of the thermal re-radiation of sunlight by asteroids: the Yarkovsky effect changes the size of an asteroid's orbit, and the YORP effect (Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack) is responsible for aligning the spin axes within asteroid families.This program is coordinated with other programs through a regular article in the Minor Planet Bulletin, email alert services, a web site (CALL, the Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link), responses to "target of opportunity" observing requests, and the asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB). These activities enhance both the intellectual value and the broader impact of this work. This study engages a large number of students and faculty at educational institutions around the world, as well as the general public ('backyard astronomers') in critical astronomical research. In an effort to expand the pool of qualified observers, this project includes a series of photometry workshops to provide both theory and hands-on skills to help possible future participants to contribute.