Electronic Telegram No. 2540
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
CBAT Director:  Daniel W. E. Green; Hoffman Lab 209; Harvard University;
 20 Oxford St.; Cambridge, MA  02138; U.S.A.
e-mail:  cbatiau@eps.harvard.edu (alternate cbat@iau.org)
URL http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/index.html
Prepared using the Tamkin Foundation Computer Network


(15700) 1987 QD
     R. Durkee, Shed of Science Observatory, Minneapolis, MN; P. Pravec, K.
Hornoch, and P. Kusnirak, Ondrejov Observatory; D. Pray, Carbuncle Hill
Observatory, W. Brookfield, MA, U.S.A.; V. Chiorny and V. Shevchenko, Kharkiv
Observatory; J. Oey, Leura, N.S.W., Australia; N. Gaftonyuk and Yu. Krugly,
Simeiz Observatory; D. Higgins, Canberra, Australia; J. Vilagi and S. Gajdos,
Modra Observatory; M. Husarik and M. Pikler, Skalnate Pleso Observatory; and
J. G. Ries, McDonald Observatory, University of Texas, report that photometric
observations obtained during Sept. 6-Oct. 13 reveal that minor planet (15700)
is a binary-system candidate.  A primary rotation period of 3.0586 +/- 0.0001
hr with a lightcurve amplitude of 0.07 mag was resolved.  Superimposed to the
primary lightcurve were attenuations with depths 0.1-0.3 mag and durations up
to 3.5 hours that had shapes characteristic of mutual events in a binary
system.  A conclusive solution for the orbit period was not obtained, however,
so this object remains a serious suspect for being binary, but confirmation
must come from future observations.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2010 CBAT
2010 November 6                  (CBET 2540)              Daniel W. E. Green