Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link 
                          (CALL)

The purpose of these pages is to allow those engaged in determining asteroid lightcurve parameters
to coordinate their efforts so that the best use of observing time can be made.

Funding to support the CALL site is provided in part by NASA grants NNG06GI32G and NNX06AB30G and by National Science Foundation grant AST-0607505

Check, then Observe

We're getting another spell of what looks to be unneccessary duplication of effort. PLEASE. Check with the CALL site before you start work on a target, not after you have several sessions.

Some times duplication is good because the period cannot be effectively covered by one station or those of similar longitude. However, some times that single station can and does cover those more difficult objects by sticking with it a little longer. In the meantime, there are thousands of asteroids within reach of backyard telescopes that have no lightcurve parameters at all and dozens that are wanting only good coverage at one more apparition for modeling.

The CALL site's value as an observing tool is up to the observers. If used effectively, we all benefit as does asteroid research. If poorly used or abused then, like any tool, it eventually breaks and tossed aside.

CALL Site Sections

Registration Required to post observing notices and lightcurve summaries
Minor Planet Bulletin Author's Guide and recent issue downloads (PDF)
Lightcurve Parameters Harris/Warner file of known lightcurve parameters

LATEST VETTED RELEASE (April 2009)

Projects Page The list of projects wanting amateur involvement was getting long! There's now a Projects Page that provides links to the ever growing list of on-going projects.

2010 Occultation Highlights (New)

Lightcurve Targets 2009 July 1 - September 30
2009 October 1 - December 31
2010 January 1 - March 31
2010 April 1 - June 30
Observing Notifications Let others know what you're observing or request collaborations.
Lightcurve Submissions Post lightcurve parameters summaries
Search Search Notifications and Summaries for a specific asteriod by number and/or name.
Other Lightcurve Sites URLs for those doing asteroid lightcurve work.
Guide to Minor Planet Photometry Some hints on getting started

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This page is maintained by

Brian D. Warner
Palmer Divide Observatory (716)
17995 Bakers Farm Rd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80908

under the supervision of Dr. Alan W. Harris and Dr. Petr Pravec. If you have any questions, comments, or difficulties with the site itself, please contact
Brian Warner. Questions about the contents of the page should be directed to the appropriate person.

Funding for the CALL site is provided in part through grants from NASA (NNX 09AB48G) and NSF (AST-0607505)