Limits of Astrometric and Photometric Precision on KBOs

We present photometric and astrometric measurements of the Kuiper Belt Objects (KBO) Haumea and Makemake obtained between 2013 June 5 and 2013 July 31 with the 14-inch Wallace Astrophysical Observatory (WAO) telescopes. Using photometry, we determined that Haumea and Makemake have R magnitudes 17.225 ± 0.347 and 16.850 ± 0.107, respectively. We obtained rotational light curves for Haumea and Makemake over eight separate nights. Astrometry yielded mean residuals with respect to the JPL ephemeris of -0.0095 ± 0.027'' with an rms residual of 0.480'' in R.A. and 0.261 ± 0.019'' with an rms residual of 0.335 in decl. for Makemake, and 0.219 ± 0.090'' in R.A. with an rms residual of 0.748'', and 0.223 ± 0.068'' in decl. with an rms residual of 0.571'' for Haumea. Additionally, we calculated that observing Haumea with two 14-inch telescopes and Makemake with four 14-inch telescopes could resolve their periodicity. With improved observing techniques and modern CCD cameras, it is possible to utilize small telescopes in universities around the world to observe large KBOs.