Publication Date:
2011-08-18
Description:
UBV photometry and lightcurves of asteroid 29 Amphitrite from all observed apparitions (March 1956-May 1977) are combined to obtain a phase function having a linear phase coefficient of 0.030 + or - 0.002 mag/deg and a mean absolute magnitude of 6.19 + or - 0.04. Amphitrite displays a reddening of its B - V color index with increasing solar phase angle: 0.816 + or - 0.004 at a phase angle of 2 deg and 0.848 + or - 0.004 at 23 deg. Since Amphitrite's orbital inclination is low (6 deg) and its lightcurve amplitudes range between 0.06 and 0.11 mag, and are well distributed in longitude, it is concluded that the obliquity of its pole is significantly different from zero. During some apparitions Amphitrite's light curves display only one maximum and minimum per 5.3904 + or - 0.007-hr rotation period while in others as many as five of each are present. This is interpreted to mean that Amphitrite has a quasi-spherical shape with a highly irregular and/or variegated surface.
Keywords:
LUNAR AND PLANETARY EXPLORATION
Type:
Astronomical Journal; 86; Oct. 198
Format:
text
