[Iaude] CBET 5298: (9940) 1988 VM_3

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                                                  Electronic Telegram No. 5298
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
Mailing address:  Hoffman Lab 209; Harvard University;
 20 Oxford St.; Cambridge, MA  02138; U.S.A.
e-mail:  cbatiau at eps.harvard.edu (alternate cbat at iau.org)
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(9940) 1988 VM_3
     V. Benishek, Belgrade Astronomical Observatory; P. Pravec, Ondrejov
Observatory; and R. Durkee, Shed of Science South Observatory, Pontotoc, TX,
U.S.A., report that photometric observations taken with a 0.35-m telescope at
the Sopot Observatory in Serbia and a 0.50-m telescope at the Shed of Science
South Observatory during Sept. 7-19 reveal that minor planet (9940) is a
binary system with an orbital period of 25.8 +/- 0.1 hr.  The primary shows a
period of 2.7135 +/- 0.0002 hr and has a lightcurve amplitude of 0.12
magnitude at solar phases 2-11 degrees, suggesting a nearly spheroidal shape.
Mutual eclipse/occultation events that are 0.15 to 0.30 magnitude deep
indicate a lower limit on the secondary-to-primary mean-diameter ratio of
0.38.  The secondary appears synchronous and has a light-curve amplitude (in
the combined primary-plus-secondary light curve) of 0.03 mag, suggesting a
moderately elongated shape with an equatorial-axis ratio of 1.2 +/- 0.1.


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2023 October 2                   (CBET 5298)              Daniel W. E. Green