Coordinated thermal and optical observations of Trans-Neptunian object (20 000)Varuna from Sierra Nevada

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Abstract
We report on coordinated thermal and optical measurements of trans-Neptunian object (20 000)Varuna obtained in January–February 2002, respectively from the IRAM 30-m and IAA 1.5 m telescopes. The optical data show a lightcurve with a period of hr, a mean V magnitude of and a magnitude amplitude. They also tentatively indicate that the lightcurve is asymmetric and double-peaked. The thermal observations indicate a mJy flux, averaged over the object's rotation. Combining the two datasets, we infer that Varuna has a mean 1060 km diameter and a mean 0.038 V geometric albedo, in general agreement with an earlier determination using the same technique.
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