Physical Parameters of the Asteroid 2017 VR12 from Radar and Photometric Observations

Yu. S. Bondarenko, D. A. Marshalov, Yu. D. Medvedev, G. I. Kornienko, A. V. Kochergin, M. S. Zheltobryukhov, L. A. Benner

Astronomy Letters, Vol. 45 No. 2, 104–107 (2019)

DOI: 10.1134/S1063773719020038

Keywords: NEAs, asteroids, radar observations, photometry

Abstract

Results of radar and photometric observations of the asteroid 2017 VR12 are presented. The observations were carried out during the asteroid’s close approach to the Earth in 2018 on March 5 with 32-m radio telescopes at the Zelenchukskaya and Badary Observatories and on March 6 with a 0.65-m optical telescope at the Ussuriysk Astrophysical Observatory. The asteroid’s radar observations were performed in the bistatic mode at a frequency of 8.56 GHz in combination with the 70-m Goldstone antenna. The echo power spectra for the asteroid were obtained as a result of the observations. The pole-on silhouette breadth of this asteroid is 138±14 m. We have estimated the radar albedos, 0.32±0.04 and 0.31±0.04, and the circular polarization ratios, 0.36±0.02 and 0.34±0.01, for the Zelenchukskaya and Badary Observatories, respectively. Based on our photometric observations, we have obtained the asteroid’s light curve, determined its rotation period, 1.378±0.03 h, and constructed a two-dimensional surface contour.