The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the single worldwide location for receipt and distribution of positional measurements of minor planets, comets and outer irregular natural satellites of the major planets. The MPC is responsible for the identification, designation and orbit computation for all of these objects. This involves maintaining the master files of observations and orbits, keeping track of the discoverer of each object, and announcing discoveries to the rest of the world via electronic circulars and an extensive website. The MPC operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, under the auspices of Division F of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
What is the Minor Planet Center?
Latest News
- Introducing the Asteroid Explorers Web Tool 08 Jun 2015
- Interim Director Appointed to the Minor Planet Center 04 Feb 2015
- Minor Planet Center Director Steps Down 06 Jan 2015
- Let's Start 2014 with a Bang! Hello and Goodbye to Asteroid 2014 AA 03 Jan 2014
- Sci-Fi Author Iain M. Banks Gets Asteroid Named after Him 01 Jul 2013
- The MPC Talks at the UN 08 Mar 2013
- The Flyby Clock: Visualizing a Century of Asteroid Encounters 06 Feb 2013
- Asteroid Mining and Planetary Resources – Our Take on It 09 Jul 2012
- Clearing Up the FUD on 2012 DA14 12 Mar 2012
- The Flyby of Asteroid 2011 CP4 on 2012/02/23 13 Feb 2012