Projected view of Bennu, created with a shape model downsampled to ∼20,000 facets, as seen from Earth on September 15, 2005 (phase angle of 61.9◦). — astro-ph.EP
We present a web-based application designed to simulate rotational light curves of small airless bodies of the Solar System under user-defined geometric and physical conditions.
The tool integrates both physical and empirical photometric models and allows users to input custom shape models, surface properties and viewing geometries. A special module also calculates projected silhouettes in the epoch of star occultations, allowing a direct comparison with observed chords.
Developed in Python and Django, the application was validated against well-characterized targets such as (136108) Haumea, (101955) Bennu and (433) Eros and showed excellent agreement between synthetic and observed light curves and silhouettes. Beyond standard light curve simulations, the tool supports scenarios such as surface heterogeneity, non-principal axis rotation (tumbling), and phase angle effects.
This flexible and accessible platform provides a powerful resource for interpreting photometric data, supporting ongoing observation campaigns, and supporting future mission planning.
JL Risos, JL Ort, PJ Guitier, IM Navajas, LM Lara
Topics: Earth and planetary astrophysics (astro-ph.EP); Instrumentation and methods for astrophysics (astro-ph.IM)
Cite as: arXiv:2510.03192 [astro-ph.EP](or arXiv:2510.03192v2 [astro-ph.EP] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2510.03192
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Submission history
By: Juan Luis Rizos Dr
[v1] Fri, 3 Oct 2025 17:24:09 UTC (7,301 KB)
[v2] Wed, Oct 8, 2025 18:01:26 UTC (7,301 KB)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.03192
astrobiology, astrogeology,
