The Calern Asteroid Polarisation Survey

Context. The Calern Asteroid Polarimetric Survey (CAPS), a collaboration between the INAF Astrophysical Observatory of Torino (Italy) and Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur (Nice, France), has produced new asteroid polarimetric data for number years, is one most important, currently active projects polarimetry. Aims. purpose this paper to make public CAPS collected thus far, explain adopted techniques reduction computation phase-polarisation curves measured objects, explain, by means some examples, importance database. Methods. pipeline been recently updated made as automatic possible, using numerical algorithms developed specifically purposes CAPS. derivation observed asteroids done established criteria that have slightly improved, are also summarised in paper. Results. catalogue steadily growing source information which can be exploited different purposes, including, but not limited to, an calibration relations existing parameters geometric albedo study classes objects easily identified their properties. These subjects will more discussed separate papers. Conclusions. polarimetry nicely complement results other commonly used techniques, including visible IR photometry spectroscopy. contains lot much-desired about physical properties, hardly inferred techniques.