Polarimetric Observations of Hungaria Asteroids

R. GIL-HUTTON, D. LAZZARO, AND P. BENAVIDEZ

ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS

EDP Sciences

Año: 2007

0004-6361

aims: We present the results of a polarimetric program at Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (Casleo), San Juan, Argentina. The aim of this campaign is to estimate the polarimetric properties of asteroids belonging to the Hungaria dynamical group.methods: The data were obtained with the Casprof polarimeter at the 2.15 m telescope. The Casprof polarimeter is a two-hole aperture polarimeter with rapid modulation. The campaign began in 2000, and data on a sample of 24 members of the Hungaria group were obtained. We use the slope - albedo or Pmin - albedo relationships to get polarimetric albedos for 18 of these objects. results: Only two Xe-type objects, 434 Hungaria and 3447 Burkhalter, shown a polarimetric behavior compatible with a high albedo object. The A-type asteroid 1600 Vyssotsky has a polarimetric behavior similar to what was observed by Fornasier et al.(2006) for 863 Benkolea, and four objects show Pmin values consistent with dark surfaces.