Ellipsoids and lightcurves (Q1063875)

The authors deal with the problem to determine the shape of a rotating asteroid from its lightcurve (brightness-versus-time function). For simplicity the following assumptions are made: 1) The shape of the asteroid is approximated by an ellipsoid. 2) The asteroid is rotating about its smallest axis. 3) Its brightness is proportional to its visible illuminated area projected on a plane orthogonal to its straight connection with the Earth. Then the relation between the asteroid's shape and its lightcurve is a problem of analytic geometry. The main theorems of this paper give a solution to this problem.