Prelaunch observation of 1999JU3, the target asteroid of sample return mission, Hayabusa-2

Abstract

Hayabusa 2 is an asteroid sample return mission following Hayabusa mission. This mission is now under study and mission target is c-type asteroid 1999JU3. From summer 2007 to April 2008 the observation from the earth is favorable conditions. This chance of observation is the first in 8 years from discovery. About 1999JU3 we had known only spectral type until now so we had observed lightcurve of it in July 2007. As a result we have found that its rotational period is about under 6 hours. This time, we will report about information of 1999JU3 we had get until now for example the result of lightcurve from July to September and about the result of AKARI in May and so on.