[IAUC] CBET 2105: 20091231 : (2131) MAYALL

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                                                  Electronic Telegram No. 2105
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
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CBAT en CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
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(2131) MAYALL
     B. Warner, Palmer Divide Observatory; P. Pravec, P. Kusnirak, and
K. Hornoch, Ondrejov Observatory; J. Vilagi, L. Kornos, S. Gajdos, P. Veres,
and A. Galad, Modra Observatory; W. Cooney, J. Gross, and D. Terrell,
Sonoita Research Observatory, Sonoita, AZ; and Yu. Krugly and V. Chiorny,
Kharkiv Observatory, report that photometric observations obtained during
Nov. 30-Dec. 16 reveal that minor planet (2131) is a binary system with an
orbital period of 23.48 +/- 0.01 hr.  The primary shows a period of 2.5678
+/- 0.0001 hr and has a lightcurve amplitude of 0.09 mag, suggesting a
nearly spheroidal shape.  The secondary rotates synchronously with the
orbital motion, and its lightcurve component has an amplitude of 0.05 mag.
Observed mutual-eclipse/occultation events indicate a secondary-to-primary
mean-diameter ratio of 0.28 +/- 0.02.
     Observations in 2005 (Warner 2005, Minor Planet Bull. 32, 54-58) and
2007 (Warner et al. 2007, Minor Planet Bull. 34, 23) showed no indications
of (2131) being binary.


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                         (C) Copyright 2009 CBAT
2009 December 31                 (CBET 2105)              Daniel W. E. Green