Shape Models of Lucy Targets (3548) Eurybates and (21900) Orus from Disk-integrated Photometry

Abstract

Abstract We use our new light curves, along with historical data, to determine the rotation state, photometric properties, and convex shape models of the targets of the Lucy mission (3548) Eurybates and (21900) Orus. We determine a retrograde spin for both targets, with sidereal rotation periods of 8.7027283 ± 0.0000029 h and 13.486190 ± 0.000017 h, respectively. The phase curves of both objects are nearly linear in the phase-angle range observable from Earth and lack a pronounced opposition effect. Unsupervised classification of these phase curves by the Penttilä et al. tool suggests that Eurybates and Orus belong to the C and D taxonomic types, respectively, thereby independently confirming past classifications based on their spectral slope. Time-resolved color-index measurements show no systematic color variations correlated with rotation for either target at the 1% level, suggesting that no variegation is present on a hemispherical scale for any of the objects. Comparison of the shape models with stellar occultation data available for the two objects from the program by Buie et al. allows us to resolve the longitude ambiguity of the orientations of the spin axes and derive unique pole solutions for both targets. Furthermore, scaling the shape models to match the occultation chords produces accurate sizes and geometric albedos for both objects. The derived surface-equivalent spherical diameters are D s = 69.3 ± 1.4 km and D s = 60.5 ± 0.9 km for Eurybates and Orus, respectively, while the geometric albedo in the H, G 1, G 2 system is p V (H, G 1, G 2) = 0.044 ± 0.003 and p V (H, G 1, G 2) = 0.040 ± 0.002 for Eurybates and Orus, respectively.