New phase-magnitude curves for some main belt asteroids, fit of different photometric systems and calibration of the albedo - Photometry relation

Abstract

Results of photometric observations of a small sample of selected Main Belt asteroids are presented. The obtained measurements can be used to achieve a better calibration of the asteroid photometric system (H, G₁ , G₂) adopted by the IAU, and to make comparisons with best-fit curves that can be obtained using different photometric systems. The new data have been obtained as a first feasibility study of a more extensive project planned for the future, aimed at obtaining a reliable calibration of possible relations between some parameters characterizing the phase-magnitude curves and the geometric albedo of asteroids. This has important potential applications to the analysis of asteroid photometric data obtained by the Gaia space mission.