Asteroid 46436 2002 LH5


46436 2002 LH5 is a main-belt asteroid with an estimated diameter of 5 km. It was discovered on June 6, 2002, by C. W. Juels, and P. R. Holvorcem, at Fountain Hills. The semi-major axis is 2.38 AU, the eccentricity is 0.369 and the inclination is 14.35 degrees.

This asteroid was first observed on 3 nights during July and August 2007. The resulting lightcurve showed a period of 3.8836 hours.



Lightcurve results for 46436 2002 LH5.
Period 3.8836 +/- 0.0001 hours. Amplitude 0.60 +/- 0.02 magnitude.

Further observed were obtained on 8 nights during September and October 2012. The data confirmed the earlier result with a derived period of 3.8832 hours.



Lightcurve results for 46436 2002 LH5.
Period 3.8832 +/- 0.0001 hours. Amplitude 0.65 +/- 0.02 magnitude.

Combining the 2 sets of data resulted in a very good lightcurve with a period of 3.88355 hours.



Combined lightcurve for 46436 2002 LH5.
Period 3.88355 +/- 0.00001 hours. Amplitude 0.65 +/- 0.02 magnitude.

I tried to use the two sets of data to analyse the shape of the asteroid, however the interval between the observations was almost exactly 1 orbital period and as a result there was too little difference in the solar longitude of the asteroid for any meaningful result to be derived as shown in the plot of possible pole positions shown below.



Possible pole locations.
Blue indicates a possible solution.