Asteroid Models from the Pan-STARRS Photometry

We present simulations on the asteroid photometric data that will be provided by the Pan-STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System). The simulations were performed using realistic shape and light-scattering models, random orientation of spin axes, and rotation periods in the range 2–24 h. We show that physical models of asteroids can be reconstructed from this data with some limitations (possible multiple pole solutions). We emphasize the potential of sparse photometric data to produce models of a large number of asteroids within the next decade and we outline further tests with fast and slow rotators, tumblers, and binary asteroids.