Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Observation of Stellar Occultations by Asteroid (259) Alethea and Comet 21P/Jacobini−Zinner

  • DYNAMICS AND PHYSICS OF BODIES OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
  • Published:
Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract—

Instrumentation for observing occultations of stars by Solar System bodies and its parameters are described. The complex is designed for observations at the AZT-2 telescope (D = 70 cm, F = 10.5 m) of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (МAO NASU); it is equipped with an optical reducer of the focal length and may also be mounted at the other telescopes. The observation complex uses the Apogee Alta U47 CCD camera as a light receiver, which operates in the drift scan mode. The results of the study of two phenomena that were observed with this complex are described. During the observations on September 21, 2018, a decrease of approximately 0.04m in the brightness of the star HD 45314 was detected near the ephemeris moment of occultation by comet 21P/Giacobini−Zinner. This value exceeds the level of errors possible in the photometry of a stellar track. A possible explanation of this effect by the attenuation of light in a symmetrical dust coma of the comet was analyzed. It has been shown that this factor cannot yield the required magnitude of the light attenuation. The observed decrease in brightness is explained by the passage of the star through the jet structure with sharp boundaries, the optical thickness of which is 0.035 ± 0.012 and the opening angle is 54.6°. The single scattering albedo of dust particles in this jet is in the range of 0.04−0.06. The occultation of the star UCAC4-475-051755 by asteroid (259) Alethea was recorded on March 31, 2019, and it lasted for 16.7 s. This occultation duration corresponds to the asteroid chord 185 km long, while the expected one is 61 km, and it exceeds a value of 179 km accepted for this asteroid diameter. This difference is explained by the ellipsoidal shape of asteroid (259) Alethea, and the grounds for a value of 1 : 1.19 for its axial ratio are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.
Fig. 10.
Fig. 11.
Fig. 12.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. V. Karbovs’kii, V. Kleshchonok, and M. Buroms’kii, “Software and hardware complex for observation of star occultations by asteroids,” Bull. T. Shevchenko Nat. Univ. of Kyiv, No. 2 (56), 41–44 (2017).

  2. R. Andrae, M. Fouesneau, O. Creevey, Ch. Ordenovic, N. Mary, A. Burlacu, L. Chaoul, A. Jean-Antoine-Piccolo, G. Kordopatis, A. Korn, Y. Lebreton, Ch. Panem, B. Pichon, F. Thévenin, G. Walmsley, and C. A. L. Bailer-Jones, “Gaia Data Release 2. First stellar parameters from Apsis,” Astron. Astrophys. 61, A8 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. F. Braga-Ribas, B. Sicardy, J. L. Ortiz, et al., “A ring system detected around the Centaur (10199) Chariklo,” Nature 508, 72–75 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. B. Carry, “Density of asteroids,” Planet. Space Sci. 73 (1), 98–118 (2012).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. E. Chornaya, E. Zubko, I. Luk’yanyk, A. Kochergin, M. Zheltobryukhov, O. Ivanova, G. Kornienko, A. Matkin, A. Baransky, I. Molotov, V. Sharoshchenko, and G. Videen, “Imaging polarimetry and photometry of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner,” Icarus 337, 471 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Clairemidi, G. Moreels, and V. A. Krasnopolsky, “Gaseous CN, C2, and C3 jets in the inner coma of Comet P/Halley observed from the Vega 2 spacecraft,” Icarus 86, 115–128 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. J. L. Elliot, E. Dunham, and D. Mink, “The rings of Uranus,” Nature 267, 328–330 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Y. R. Fernández, D. D. Wellnitz, M. W. Buie, et al., “The inner coma and nucleus of comet Hale-Bopp: Results from a stellar occultation,” Icarus 140, 205–220 (1999).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. L. Kolokolova, M. S. Hanner, A.-C. Levasseur-Regourd, and B. E. S. Gustafson, “Physical properties of cometary dust from light scattering and thermal emission,” in Comets II, Ed. by M. Festou, H. U. Keller, and H. A. Weaver (Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, Ariz., 2005), pp. 577–604.

    Google Scholar 

  10. S. M. Larson and M. F. A’Hearn, “Comet Bowell (1980b) — Measurement of the optical thickness of the coma and particle albedo from a stellar occultation,” Icarus 58, 446–450 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. S. M. Larson and Z. Sekanina, “Coma morphology and dust-emission pattern of periodic Comet Halley. I — High-resolution images taken at Mount Wilson in 1910,” Astron. J. 89, 571–578 (1984).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. M. E. Lawler and D. E. Brownlee, “CHON as a component of dust from comet Halley,” Nature 359, 810–812 (1992).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. L. A. Lebofsky and J. R. Spencer, “Radiometry and thermal modeling of asteroids,” in Asteroids II, Ed. by R. P. Binzel (Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, Ariz., 1989), p. 128.

    Google Scholar 

  14. F. Marchis, M. Kaasalainen, E. F. Y. Hom, J. Berthier, J. Enriquez, D. Hestroffer, D. Le Mignant, and I. de Pater, “Shape, size and multiplicity of main-belt asteroids: I. Keck Adaptive Optics survey,” Icarus 185, 39–63 (2006).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. J. R. Masiero, A. K. Mainzer, T. Grav, J. M. Bauer, R. M. Cutri, J. Dailey, P. R. M. Eisenhardt, R. S. McMillan, T. B. Spahr, M. F. Skrutskie, D. Tholen, R. G. Walker, E. L. Wright, E. DeBaun, D. Elsbury, T. Gautier IV, S. Gomillion, and A. Wilkins, “Main belt asteroids with WISE/NEOWISE. I. Preliminary albedos and diameters,” Astrophys. J. 741, 68 (2011).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. J. Pittichova, C. E. Woodward, M. S. Kelley, and W. T. Reach, “Ground-based optical and Spitzer infrared imaging observations of comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner,” Astron. J. 136, 1127–1136 (2008).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. P. Pravec, A. W. Harris, and B. D. Warner, “Asteroid photometry opportunities,” Minor Planet Bull. 29, 19 (2002).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. V. K. Rosenbush, “Opposition effects in brightness, color, and polarization of comet 1P/Halley: Comparison with atmosphereless Solar System bodies,” Sol. Syst. Res. 39, 312–321 (2005).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. E. L. Ryan, F. Usui, D. Kuroda, T. G. Muller, S. Hasegawa, M. Ishiguro, T. Ootsubo, D. Ishihara, H. Kataza, S. Takita, S. Oyabu, M. Ueno, H. Matsuhara, and T. Onaka, “Asteroid catalog using Akari: AKARI/IRC mid-infrared asteroid survey,” Publ. Astron. Soc. Jpn. 63, 1117–1138 (2011).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. E. L. Ryan and C. E. Woodward, “Rectified asteroid albedos and diameters from IRAS and MSX photometry catalogs,” Astron. J. 140, 933–943 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. N. N. Samus’, E. V. Kazarovets, O. V. Durlevich, N. N. Kireeva, and E. N. Pastukhova, “General catalogue of variable stars: Version GCVS 5.1,” Astron. Rep. 61, 80–88 (2017).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. P. Tanga and M. Delbo, “Asteroid occultations today and tomorrow: Toward the GAIA era,” Astron. Astrophys. 474, 1015–1022 (2007).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. E. F. Tedesco, P. V. Noah, M. C. Noah, and S. D. Price, IRAS Minor Planet Survey. NASA Planetary Data System, IRAS-A-FPA-3-RDR-IMPS-V6.0 (2004).

  24. N. Zacharias, C. T. Finch, T. M. Girard, A. Henden, J. L. Bartlett, D. G. Monet, and M. I. Zacharias, “The Fourth US Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC4),” Astron. J. 145, 44 (2013).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to A.R. Baranskii for providing us with the images of comet 21P/Giacobini−Zinner, which he acquired on September 20, 2018, at the Lesniki Observation Station, and V.I. Shavlovskii for the given opportunity to perform test observations with the complex at the AZT-2 telescope.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astronomical Observatory, Shevchenko National University, 04053, Kyiv, Ukraine

    V. V. Kleshchonok & M. I. Buromsky

  2. Main Astronomical Observatory, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03143, Kyiv, Ukraine

    V. L. Karbovsky & M. V. Lashko

Authors
  1. V. V. Kleshchonok
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. L. Karbovsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. I. Buromsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. V. Lashko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to V. V. Kleshchonok, V. L. Karbovsky, M. I. Buromsky or M. V. Lashko.

Additional information

Translated by E. Petrova

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kleshchonok, V.V., Karbovsky, V.L., Buromsky, M.I. et al. Observation of Stellar Occultations by Asteroid (259) Alethea and Comet 21P/Jacobini−Zinner. Kinemat. Phys. Celest. Bodies 37, 41–51 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0884591321010025

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0884591321010025

Keywords:

Search

Navigation