Abstract
Deep imaging was performed with the Subaru Telescope on Mauna Keacentered on the position of the KBO (24952) 1997 QJ4 on 2half-nights during October 2002. A deep search for evidence of a dustcoma was conducted which could be indicative of cometary activity downto a limit of mV = 31 mag arcsec-2. No coma was detected, and from this sensitive upper limits on dust production can be set at Q <0.01 kg s-1. Brightness variations consistent with rotationalmodulation were seen, implying a period of rotation longer than 4 hrs,with a range > 0.3 mag corresponding to a minimum projected axis ratioof 1:1.3.
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Meech, K.J., Hainaut, O.R., Boehnhardt, H. et al. Search for Cometary Activity in KBO (24952) 1997 QJ4 . Earth, Moon, and Planets 92, 169–181 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:MOON.0000031935.34633.44
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:MOON.0000031935.34633.44