Analysis of Observations
of Earth Impact Object 2008 TC3
E. Yu. Aleshkina, V. V. Kouprianov, A. V. Devyatkin,
I. A. Verestchagina, V. Slesarenko
Central (Pulkovo) Astronomical Observatory of RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia
Abstract:
On-line astrometric and photometric observations of asteroid 2008 TC3, discovered 19 hours before its impact on Earth [1],
were carried out with the mirror astrograph ZA-320пњ at Pulkovo
observatory at night of 7th October, 2009. We obtained 270 frames during 4 hours, which constitutes about 1/3 of the world's observations of the object. Results of analysis of the of 837 observations taken at
26 observatories worldwide are presented. Estimates of the asteroid's absolute magnitude and its size have been obtained. Frequency analysis of observations for determining the probable periodic brightness variations has been carried out.
Key words:
Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Near Earth Objects (NEOs), Earth impact object, asteroid 2008 TC3, the mirror astrograph ZA-320M, Pulkovo observatory, asteroid’s absolute magnitude, asteroid’s size, frequency analysis of observations, periodic brightness variations.