In 2023–2024, astrometric and photometric observations of the potentially hazardous asteroid 139622 (2001 QQ142) were carried out using telescopes of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A series of astrometric observations of the asteroid positions have been obtained, which have a root-mean-square accuracy of one observation for ZA-320M σ = ±0″.21 and for MTM-500M σ = ±0″.07. The evolution of its orbit and the circumstances of its close approaches to Earth were studied, and the influence of nongravitational effects on its motion was estimated. Based on photometric observations of the asteroid in the integral bands of the telescopes, a light curve was constructed, and its axial rotation period was refined: P = 17.0232 ± 0.0040 h.

In 2022, the telescope of the Main (Pulkovo) Astronomical Observatory of RAS obtained astrometric and photometric series of observations of a potentially dangerous asteroid (138971) 2001 CB21 during its approach to Earth. Based on the data obtained and data from the MPC website, the asteroid’s orbit was improved and the circumstances of the encounters were investigated with the Earth and Venus and an assessment was made of the influence of nongravitational effects on its motion. Based on photometric observations of the asteroid, a light curve was constructed and its axial rotation period was confirmed: R = 3.305 ± 0.002 h.

The astrometric observations of potentially hazardous asteroid 2001 QQ142 (139622) were made during its apparition after its close approach to the Earth. The observations were made using the mirror astrograph ZA-320M and D.D. Maksutov meniscus telescope MTM-500M of Pulkovo Observatory. The RMS of obtained series of the asteroid positions are σ = ±0''.21 for ZA-320M and σ = ±0''.07 for MTM-500M observations.

In 2020, two telescopes of the State Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, ZA-320M and MTM-500M, obtained series of observations of the potentially dangerous asteroid 65690 (1991 DG) during its approach to the Earth and carried out their astrometric and photometric processing. Using the coordinates of the asteroid and observations from the MRS site, the orbit of the asteroid was clarified, and the circumstances of the approaches to the Earth and Mars were determined, and an assessment was made of the influence of nongravitational effects on its orbit. Based on the results of photometric processing of the asteroid, a light curve was constructed and the period of its axial rotation was determined: P = 4.3193 ± 0.0028 h.

The asteroid (13553) Masaakikoyama was observed with the ZA-320M and MTM-500M telescopes of the Pulkovo observatory in August and September 2018. Its axial rotation period was estimated based on the observed sections of the light curve (and additional observational data provided by B.D. Warner) at 97.2 ± 0.3 h. This estimation was made difficult by the fact that the period is commensurable with a day. The light curve has certain features suggestive of tumbling rotation and a complex shape. The orbit of (13553) Masaakikoyama was improved using the obtained astrometric positions of the asteroid.

Observations of potentially hazardous asteroid 2017 VR12 during its close approach to the Earth were made at Pulkovo Observatory via ZA-320M telescope at the end of February and the beginning of March 2018. Orbital elements of the asteroid were improved basing on the obtained astrometric data. The orbital evolution was studied and the influence of non-gravitational effects was estimated. The axial rotation period of the asteroid was determined from photometric data.

During the 2014-2015 mutual events season, the Institut de Mecanique Celeste et de Calcul des Ephemerides (IMCCE), Paris, France, and the Sternberg Astronomical Institute (SAI), Moscow, Russia, led an international observation campaign to record ground-based photometric observations of Galilean moon mutual occultations and eclipses. We focused on processing the complete photometric observations data base to compute new accurate astrometric positions. We used our method to derive astrometric positions from the light curves of the events. We developed an accurate photometric model of mutual occultations and eclipses, while correcting for the satellite albedos, Hapke's light scattering law, the phase effect, and the limb darkening. We processed 609 light curves, and we compared the observed positions of the satellites with the theoretical positions from IMCCE NOE-5-2010-GAL satellite ephemerides and INPOP13c planetary ephemeris. The standard deviation after fitting the light curve in equatorial positions is +/- 24 mas, or 75 km at Jupiter. The rms (O-C) in equatorial positions is +/- 50 mas, or 150 km at Jupiter.

Using the telescopes ZA-320 M and MTM-500 M of Pulkovo Observatory (Russia), we have carried out astrometric and photometric observations of the asteroid (367943) Duende (2012 DA14) immediately after its close approach to the Earth occurred on 2013 February 15. We have obtained a series of its astrometric positions, colour indices and two fragments of its light curve. By numerically integrating, we have studied the evolution of the asteroid's orbit. Also, the influence of solar radiation pressure and Yarkovsky effect on the asteroid was estimated. The fitting of the asteroid rotation model to the observed light curve indicates that during its closest approach to the Earth, it had tumbling rotation regime.

Observational Astrometry Laboratory and Ephemeris Provision Sector of Pulkovo Observatory carry out a joint multipurpose research on asteroids belonging to various groups. Astrometric and photometric observations are done using ZA–320M and MTM–500M telescopes located at Pulkovo and in Northern Caucasus mountains, correspondingly. We obtain lightcurves that allow us to determine spin parameters and shapes of asteroids. Their color indices and taxonomy classes are derived from wideband filter observations. Improvement of asteroid orbits is achieved by doing positional measurements. Orbital evolution of asteroids is modelled, taking into account also non-gravity forces, including light pressure and Yarkovsky effect. NEAs, as well as binary asteroids, take an important place in our investigations. Quasi-satellites of Venus, Earth, and Mars are new targets of our research, one of the examples being 2012DA14 that approached Earth in early 2013; many MTM–500M observations of this asteroid were obtained around the date of approach.

Exoplanet observations have been performed on the automated Pulkovo Observatory telescopes. We have obtained 33 transit light curves for 16 known exoplanets and six transit observations for three exoplanet candidates discovered by the Kepler telescope. Based on our observations, we have reliably confirmed the existence of an exoplanet with an extremely large radius, R pl = 1.83 ± 0.16R Jup, in the system KOI 256 and detected a strong deviation of its orbital revolution from the theoretically predicted one. During the transit of the exoplanet WASP-12b across the stellar disk, we detected bursts that could be caused by the planet transit across spots on the star or by the presence of a satellite around this exoplanet. We detected possible periodic variations in the duration of the exoplanet transit across the stellar disk with time for HAT-P-12b that could be caused by variations in orbital inclination. The transit duration and depth, the central transit time, and the radius and orbital inclination of the planet have been estimated. The equilibrium temperature and albedo have been estimated for several exoplanets.

Laboratory of observational astrometry of Pulkovo astronomical observatory of Russian Academy of science takes part in prelaunch training observations of GAIA-FUN-SSO program. Two asteroids were observed for this program after training alerts in 2011-2012.

More than 20000 observations of Near Earth asteroids and comets are collected and reduced in Pulkovo Observatory during last 10 years. For observations of these objects two robotic telescopes are used – ZA-320M (Cassegrain system, D = 320 mm, F = 3200 mm) at Pulkovo and MTM-500M (Maksutov – Cassegrain system, D = 500 mm, F = 4100 mm) at Kislovodsk mountain station. These telescopes perform CCD observations of objects up to 18.0 and 20.5 magnitude, correspondingly. The results of observations are regularly submitted to Minor Planet Center.

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés. Astrometric and Photometric Observations of Solar System Bodies with Telescopes of Pulkovo Observatory A. V. Devyatkin, I. A. Vereshchagina, E. N. Sokov, D. L. Gorshanov, E. S. Romas, E. J. Aleshkina, V. J. Slesarenko, S. V. Karashevich, A. S. Bechteva, K. N. Naumov, et al.

In 2009, in five Russian observatories photometric observations of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites during their mutual occultations and eclipses were carried out. Based on these observations, an original method was used to ascertain astrometric results such as the difference between the coordinates of pairs of satellites. Fifty-three phenomena were successfully observed. A total of 94 light curves of satellites were measured. The error in the coordinates of satellites due to random errors in photometry, calculated on all data obtained, was 0.041″ in right ascension and 0.046″ in declination. The discrepancies between the theory and observations in these coordinates was found to be 0.060″ and 0.057″, respectively. The results were uploaded to the common database for all observations of natural satellites of planets at the Natural Satellites Data Center (NSDC), which is available online at http://www.sai.msu.ru/neb/nss/index.htm . For the first time in the practice of photometric observations of satellites in epochs of mutual occultations and eclipses a new method of observation was tested, which eliminates from astrometric results the major systematic errors caused by an inaccurate account of the background level. The tests were conducted in the Terskol Observatory and the observatory of the Crimean laboratory of the Sternberg State Astronomical Institute of the Moscow State University. The application of the new method showed that the elimination of the background level at these observatories was carried out correctly.

This paper describes the design features of the MAGIS horizontal-type meridional telescope of the Pulkovo Observatory and its operating principle. Questions are considered of the technological and metrological basis for choosing the materials for its subassemblies. The transit circle of MAGIS is intended for differential determinations of the coordinates (right ascensions and declinations) of objects to 17th stellar magnitude on the celestial sphere in the B, V, and R bands of the Johnson photometric system and in the integral sensitivity band of the detector.

The results of investigations and observations with classical meridian circle MK-200 and photographic vertical circle (PVC) after its modernization and automation are discussed. The data concerning the stability of the instrumental system and the flexure of the Pulkovo Horizontal meridian circle (HMC) are given. New work on the establishment of in axial meridian circle in Nikolaev, Ecker meridian circle and reflecting one in Pulkovo is mentioned.