BVR photometry of Hyperion near the time of the 2005 Cassini encounter

Abstract

Six nights of BVR photometry and three nights of R photometry were collected over a month-long period shortly after the Cassini encounter with Hyperion on September 24 2005. Our observations were designed to help constrain the rotational state of the chaotically rotating satellite. Fourier analysis of our lightcurve data yields three possible periods: 10.2±0.2, 13.9±0.2, and 19.7±0.4 days. Our B-V and V-R colors agree well with previous ground-based and Voyager 2 measurements.