Recent optical observations of NHATS target 2015 DP155
ATel #11645; V. Reshetnyk (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine), V. Godunova (ICAMER Observatory, Ukraine), O. Sergeev (ICAMER Observatory, Ukraine), A. Simon (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine)
on 15 May 2018; 21:05 UT
Credential Certification: Andrew Simon (skazhenijandrew@gmail.com)
Subjects: Optical, Asteroid, Solar System Object
We report light curve observations of the near-Earth asteroid 2015 DP155 which is on the NASA's list of potential future space mission targets (NHATS). It was first observed at Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala, on 2015, February 17 and has been classified by the Minor Planet Center as a potentially hazardous asteroid. 2015 DP155 will pass within 0.023 AU (approximately nine mean lunar distances) on 2018, June 11; this is its closest encounter with Earth since 1959. Goldstone radar observations of this object are scheduled on 2018, June 4-17.
A forced photometry of 2015 DP155 was carried out with the 0.6-m Cassegrain telescope (Zeiss-600) at the Terskol Observatory on 2018, May 1-7 when the object had a visual magnitude of about 18.9 and its phase angle ranged from 70.4 to 74.0 degrees. Analysis of datasets obtained allowed us to derive a rotation period of 3.105 ± 0.004 h. The composite light curve of 2015 DP155 which is shown in Fig.1 indicates an amplitude of about 1 mag. Taking into account that the Asteroid Lightcurve Database (LCDB; Warner et al., 2009, 2018 March 7 update) does not contain any previously results for 2015 DP155, our findings appear to be the first reported information on the rotation period of this near-Earth object.
