Binary asteroids candidates

The properties of these candidates were derived from the high-precision photometric and astrometric observations provided by the Gaia satellite. This work is part of the GaiaMoons program, and our aim with it was to characterise a sample of 357 potential binary asteroid targets and confirm or refute their binary nature. The properties of these candidates were derived from the high-precision photometric and astrometric observations provided by the Gaia satellite.

Out of 165 observations, 76 led at least to one positive observation. Among them, 33 with at least 2 positives for 24 objects that have undergone unprecedented occultation observation campaigns, with 4 objects showing indications of binary or contact binary features namely (1127) Mimi, (35420) 1998 AG_6_, (206) Hersilia and (36882) 2000 SW_155_. The resulting dataset provides, for the vast majority of these objects, unique physical and astrometric constraints, as they had never been observed through stellar occultations before. 89 observations with only negatives allowed to probe the near environment of the targets.

GaiaMoons illustrates how stellar occultation campaigns, associated to Gaia observations, generate a self-improving cycle to find new binary systems: probe size and shape to constrain future observations. By standardising this approach, we deliver critical data in unexplored parameter spaces, resolving long-standing observational ambiguities.