Convex-profile inversion of asteroid lightcurves - Theory and applications

A theory for asteroid light curve interpretation is derived from the reformulation, extension, and calibration of Ostro and Connely's (1984) convex-profile inversion, and then used to constrain the shapes of selected asteroids. The ideal conditions for the estimation of an asteroid's main cross-section from a light curve are (1) that the viewing-illumination geometry be equatorial, (2) that the scattering be uniform and geometric, (3) that the asteroid surface contours parallel to the equatorial plane be convex, (4) and that the solar angle not equal zero. Results are presented from simulations calibrating the kind, severity, and predictability of systematic errors.