Study of the physical properties of selected active objects in the main belt and surrounding regions by broadband photometry

TL;DR

This study uses broadband photometry to analyze and compare the physical properties of active objects in the main asteroid belt, revealing systematic differences among main-belt comets, quasi-Hilda comets, and active asteroids.

Contribution

It provides new observational data and comparative analysis of physical parameters of active objects in the main belt, highlighting differences among various groups.

Findings

Systematic differences in physical parameters of MBCs and QHCs.

Upper limits for nuclear radii, Afrho, and color indices established.

Photometric data collected during 2012-2016 for 15 objects.

Abstract

Dynamically different groups of comets and active asteroids with orbits at 2 - 5 a. u. show dust activity in varying degrees and forms. Photometric study and comparison of physical parameters can help to classify mechanisms and nature of the activity for such objects. We present new observations using broadband photometry of 15 active objects in the main asteroid belt and surrounding regions obtained during 2012 - 2016. The study aims to compare the physical properties of main-belt comets (MBCs), quasi-Hilda comets (QHCs), and active asteroids (AAs). The observations were carried out with the 0.7-m telescope of the Kyiv Comet Station, Ukraine, and with the 1.23-m telescope at the Calar Alto Observatory, Spain, using BVR broadband filters. Upper limits for the nuclear radii, Afrho parameters, and color indices were measured. The results of 2012 - 2016 observations suggest that there exist systematic differences in the physical parameters of MBCs and QHCs.