Researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC) have developed a new open-access web tool that allows the simulation and analysis of light curves of asteroids and other small Solar System bodies. The work has been published in Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A) (DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202556525).
The article, titled “An Open-Access Web Tool for Light Curve Simulation and Analysis of Small Solar System Objects”, presents a platform that provides an intuitive interface enabling both the simulation of theoretical light curves and their direct comparison with observational data. Its open and modular design makes it a valuable resource for the scientific and educational community, promoting collaboration in the photometric analysis of small Solar System objects.
Although primarily designed to help users understand the photometric behaviour of these bodies, the tool also includes specific modules for the analysis of stellar occultations, expanding its range of potential applications.
The application is available online at https://lctsb.scitechss.iaa.es/ and will continue to evolve with new capabilities, including the simulation of companion satellites, the presence of ring systems, thermal modelling, and dedicated tools for cometary studies.