An open-access web tool for light curve simulation and analysis of small Solar System objects

Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IAA-CSIC), Glorieta de la Astronomía S/N, 18008 Granada, Spain

^★ Corresponding author: jlrizos@iaa.es

Received: 21 July 2025
Accepted: 3 October 2025

Abstract

Context. Rotational light curves of small Solar System bodies provide key insights into their shapes, spin states, and surface properties. The generation of synthetic light curves based on shape models and photometric functions can be a powerful tool to interpret observational data and test hypotheses about the physical characteristics of these bodies.

Aims. This work presents a web-based application designed to simulate rotational light curves of small airless Solar System bodies under user-defined geometrical and physical configurations. It includes a dedicated module that generates the silhouette of a body at the epoch of a predicted stellar occultation, enabling direct comparison with observed chords.

Methods. The application, developed in Python and Django, incorporates physical and empirical photometric models. It allows users to define viewing and illumination geometry, surface properties, and shape models (mesh files). A validation section enables comparison between simulation and observational data.

Results. The tool was validated using well-known objects such as (136108) Haumea, (101955) Bennu, and (433) Eros, for which projected silhouettes and synthetic light curves were generated using published shape and spin data. The results show excellent agreement with observations, confirming the reliability of the simulation engine. The application also allows users to explore surface heterogeneity, tumbling scenarios, or phase-angle dependencies.

Conclusions. This platform offers a flexible and accessible framework for simulating and interpreting light curves across a wide variety of small airless Solar System bodies. Its modular design and planned extensions make it a promising tool for both current observational campaigns and future mission support.