The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on
minor planet
According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a minor planet is an astronomical object in direct orbit around the Sun that is exclusively classified as neither a planet nor a comet. Before 2006, the IAU officially used the term ''mino ...
s under the auspices of the
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreac ...
(IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
Function
The Minor Planet Center is the official worldwide organization in charge of collecting observational data for
minor planet
According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a minor planet is an astronomical object in direct orbit around the Sun that is exclusively classified as neither a planet nor a comet. Before 2006, the IAU officially used the term ''mino ...
s (such as
asteroids), calculating their
orbit
In celestial mechanics, an orbit is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such as ...
s and publishing this information via the ''
Minor Planet Circulars''. Under the auspices of the
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreac ...
(IAU), it operates at the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, which is part of the
Center for Astrophysics along with the
Harvard College Observatory
The Harvard College Observatory (HCO) is an institution managing a complex of buildings and multiple instruments used for astronomical research by the Harvard University Department of Astronomy. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United St ...
.
The MPC runs a number of free online services for observers to assist them in observing minor planets and comets. The complete catalogue of minor planet orbits (sometimes referred to as the "Minor Planet Catalogue") may also be freely downloaded. In addition to
astrometric data, the MPC collects light curve photometry of minor planets. A key function of the MPC is helping observers coordinate follow up observations of possible
near-Earth object
A near-Earth object (NEO) is any small Solar System body whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth. By convention, a Solar System body is a NEO if its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) is less than 1.3 astronomical units (AU). ...
s (NEOs) via its NEO web form and blog, the
Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page
The Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page (NEOCP) is a web service listing recently-submitted observations of objects that may be near-Earth objects (NEOs). It is a service of the Minor Planet Center (MPC), which is the official international archiv ...
.
The MPC is also responsible for identifying, and alerting to, new NEOs with a risk of impacting Earth in the few weeks following their discovery ''(see
Potentially hazardous objects and )''.
History
The Minor Planet Center was set up at the
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,0 ...
in 1947, under the direction of
Paul Herget
Paul Herget (January 30, 1908 – August 27, 1981) was an American astronomer and director of the Cincinnati Observatory, who established the Minor Planet Center after World War II.
Career
Herget taught astronomy at the University of Cincinn ...
.
Upon Herget's retirement on June 30, 1978,
the MPC was moved to the SAO, under the direction of
Brian G. Marsden.
From 2006 to 2015,
the director of the MPC was
Timothy Spahr,
who oversaw a staff of five. From 2015 to 2021, the Minor Planet Center was headed by interim director
Matthew Holman.
Under his leadership, the MPC experienced a significant period of reorganization and growth, doubling both its staff size and the volume of observations processed per year. Upon Holman's resignation on February 9, 2021 (announced on February 19, 2021) Matthew Payne became acting director of the MPC.
Directors
* 1947–1978
Paul Herget
Paul Herget (January 30, 1908 – August 27, 1981) was an American astronomer and director of the Cincinnati Observatory, who established the Minor Planet Center after World War II.
Career
Herget taught astronomy at the University of Cincinn ...
* 1978–2006
Brian Marsden
* 2006–2015
Timothy Spahr
* 2015–2021
Matthew Holman
* 2021–pres. Matthew Payne
Periodical publications
The MPC periodically releases
astrometric observations of minor planets, as well as of
comet
A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ...
s and
natural satellite
A natural satellite is, in the most common usage, an astronomical body that orbits a planet, dwarf planet, or small Solar System body (or sometimes another natural satellite). Natural satellites are often colloquially referred to as ''moons'' ...
s. These publications are the Minor Planet Circulars (MPCs), the Minor Planet Electronic Circulars (MPECs), and the Minor Planet Supplements (MPSs and MPOs).
An extensive archive of publications in a PDF format is available at the Minor Planet Center's website. The archive's oldest publication dates back to 1 November 1977 (MPC 4937–5016).
* ''Minor Planet Circulars'' (''M.P.C.'' or ''MPCs''), established 1947, is a
scientific journal that is generally published by the Minor Planet Center on the date of each
full moon
The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth's perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (when the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180°). This means ...
, when the number of reported observations are minimal due to the brighter night sky. The ''Circulars'' contain astrometric observations, orbits and ephemerides of minor planets, comets and certain natural satellites. The astrometric observations of comets are published in full, while the minor planet observations are summarised by observatory code (the full observations now being given in the ''Minor Planet Circulars'' Supplement). New numberings and namings of minor planets ''(also see
Naming of Minor Planets)'', as well as numberings of periodic comets and natural satellites, are announced in the ''Circulars''. New orbits for comets and natural satellites appear in the ''Circulars''; new orbits for minor planets appear in the Minor Planets and Comets Orbit Supplement ''(see below)''.
* The ''Minor Planet Electronic Circulars'' (''MPECs'') are published by the Minor Planet Center. They generally contain
positional observations and
orbits
In celestial mechanics, an orbit is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such as a p ...
of
unusual minor planets and all
comet
A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ...
s. Monthly lists of observable unusual objects, observable distant objects, observable comets and the
critical list of numbered minor planets also appear on these circulars. Daily Orbit Update MPECs, issued every day, contain new identifications and orbits of minor planets, obtained over the previous 24 hours.
* The ''Minor Planets and Comets Supplement'' (''MPS'') is published on behalf of
IAU
The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreach ...
's Division F (Planetary Systems and Bioastronomy)
by the Minor Planet Center.
* The ''Minor Planets and Comets Orbit Supplement'' (''MPO'') is published on behalf of IAU's Division F by the Minor Planet Center.
Natural Satellites Ephemeris Service
The Natural Satellites Ephemeris Service is an online service of the Minor Planet Center. The service provides "ephemerides, orbital elements and residual blocks for the outer irregular satellites of the giant planets
See also
*
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
The Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) is the official international clearing house for information relating to transient astronomical events.
The CBAT collects and distributes information on comets, natural satellites, novae, super ...
*
IAU Circular
The International Astronomical Union Circulars (IAUCs) are notices that give information about astronomical phenomena. IAUCs are issued by the International Astronomical Union's Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) at irregular interval ...
*
List of astronomical societies
A list of notable groups devoted to promoting astronomy research and education.
Africa
* African Astronomical Society
South Africa
*Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
Asia
China
* Chinese Astronomical Society
India
* Akash Mitra Mandal
*A ...
*
List of minor-planet groups
A minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid. It is customary to na ...
*
List of minor planets
*
*
Meanings of minor-planet names
References
External links
*
MPC/MPO/MPS Archive all published circulars since 1977 (downloadable as PDF)
The Minor Planet Center Status Report Matthew J. Holman, ''8 November 2015''
Recent MPECs list of most-recently published ''Minor Planet Electronic Circulars''
Videos
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Astronomy data and publications
Astronomy magazines
Astronomy organizations
Science and technology magazines published in the United States
Magazines established in 1947