Long-term photometric monitoring of the dwarf planet (136472) Makemake

Abstract

Aims. We studied the rotational properties of the dwarf planet Makemake. Methods. The photometric observations were carried out at different telescopes between 2006 and 2017. Most of the measurements were acquired in BVRI broad-band filters of a standard Johnson-Cousins photometric system. Results. We found that Makemake rotates more slowly than was previously reported. A possible lightcurve asymmetry suggests a double-peaked period of P = 22.8266±0.0001 h. A small peak-to-peak lightcurve amplitude in R-filter A = 0.032±0.005 mag implies an almost spherical shape or near pole-on orientation. We also measured BVRI colours and the R-filter phase-angle slope and revised the absolute magnitudes. The absolute magnitude of Makemake has remained unchanged since its discovery in 2005. No direct evidence of a newly discovered satellite was found in our photometric data; however, we discuss the possible existence of another larger satellite.

Astrometric and photometric observations of six brightest trans-Neptunian objects at the Kyiv comet station

“…The averaged V − R colour indices obtained in this work and the corresponding literature data are given in Table 2. The V − R values calculated from different periods of the observations for Haumea and Makemake are scattered, while [30] and [12] discuss that these values do not considerably change. For Makemake, the V − R result 0.41 ± 0.02 obtained in [12] is inside our range of values.…”

“…The V − R values calculated from different periods of the observations for Haumea and Makemake are scattered, while [30] and [12] discuss that these values do not considerably change. For Makemake, the V − R result 0.41 ± 0.02 obtained in [12] is inside our range of values. For other objects, our V − R colours do not show close agreement with the reference values in Table 2.…”

“…The paper [12] included the new values of the absolute magnitudes of Makemake, H R = −0.388±0.02 in the R filter, and the value given in Table 2 in the V filer. It is an example of the use of a 0.7-m telescope (R filter) as a part of the instrumentation for the long-term photometric monitoring of a faint object, which is a general method of obtaining the absolute magnitude.…”

“…Visible and near-infrared spectral observations of Makemake showed that this object has an overall homogeneous surface [31]. Recent results of the long-term monitoring of Makemake suggested that it has an almost spherical shape and estimated its rotational period as 22.826 hours [12]. Makemake passed aphelion in 1992.…”

A multi-chord stellar occultation by the large trans-Neptunian object (174567) Varda

“…As an example, we cite Ceres, whose oblate shape is well known from stellar occultations (Gomes-Júnior et al 2015) and the DAWN spacecraft visit (Russell et al 2016) while it exhibits a lowamplitude double-peaked rotational light-curve that is caused by albedo features (Chamberlain et al 2007). In the trans-neptunian region, Makemake is also a clear example of an oblate body with a low-amplitude double-peaked light-curve (Hromakina et al 2019).…”