Shape Modeling of Asteroids --A Worthwhile Endeavor for Smaller Observatories

Asteroids, are generally too small to visually distinguish their shape through Earth-bound observations. Fortunately, light curve inversion of disc-integrated photometry has been shown to be a viable source to obtain information about physical properties of asteroids, such as the shape and spin axis. In early 2007 two target candidates for an initial shape modeling study at the Egan Observatory at Florida Gulf Coast University were selected, namely Minor Planets 242 Kriemhild and 287 Nephthys. Shape models of these two asteroids will be presented.