Do we observe light curves of binary asteroids?

Among the asteroids of intermediate size, whose shape is probably controlled by self-gravitation, a sample of 10 objects has been selected for which some 'anomalous' light curve features (strong dependence of the amplitude on the phase angle; flat minima and changes of slope suggestive of eclipses and mutual shadowing) indicate a possible binary nature. Applying the procedure described by Leone et al. (1984), the paper derives from the rotational properties of these hypothetical binary systems (whose components are assumed to roughly fit the gravitational equilibrium figures) the values of the geometrical and physical parameters, yielding a satisfactory agreement between the light curves computed from the models and the observed ones. In particular shapes, densities and mass ratios of the suspected binary asteroids have been obtained; only the latter parameter is found to be remarkably sensitive to a possible contribution of surface scattering effects to the light curve amplitude.