The binary asteroid 22 Kalliope: Linus orbit determination on the basis of speckle interferometric observations

TL;DR

This study determines the orbit of Linus, a satellite of asteroid 22 Kalliope, using speckle interferometry data from a large telescope, providing precise orbital parameters and insights into orbital variations.

Contribution

First orbital determination of Linus around 22 Kalliope using speckle interferometry data with high accuracy, applying a direct geometric method.

Findings

Orbital elements of Linus are precisely estimated.

Semi-major axis of 1109 km with 5 mas error.

Eccentricity of 0.016 with 0.004 error.

Abstract

In this paper we present the orbital elements of Linus satellite of 22 Kalliope asteroid. Orbital element determination is based on the speckle interferometry data obtained with the 6-meter BTA telescope operated by SAO RAS. We processed 9 accurate positions of Linus orbiting around the main component of 22 Kalliope between 10 and 16 December, 2011. In order to determine the orbital elements of the Linus we have applied the direct geometric method. The formal errors are about 5 mas. This accuracy makes it possible to study the variations of the Linus orbital elements influenced by different perturbations over the course of time. Estimates of six classical orbital elements, such as the semi-major axis of the Linus orbit a = 1109 +\- 6 km, eccentricity e = 0.016 +\- 0.004, inclination i = 101{\deg} +\- 1{\deg} to the ecliptic plane and others, are presented in this work.