MPC Documentation

(Beta) Definition of types of orbits

GroupAssigned ValueDefinition
Inner Atira0Semi-major axis (a) < 1 and Aphelion Distance (Q) < 0.983
Inner Aten1Semi-major axis (a) < 1 and Aphelion Distance (Q) >= 0.983
Inner Amor21 =< Semi-major axis (a) and 1.017 <= Perihelion Distance (q) < 1.3
Inner Apollo31 =< Semi-major axis (a) and Perihelion Distance (q) < 1.01
Inner Other41 =< Semi-major axis (a) and Aphelion Distance (Q) < Perihelion Distance of Mars and does not fit any other 'inner' category
Middle Mars Crosser101 =< Semi-major axis (a) < 3.2 and 1.3 < Perihelion Distance (q) < 1.666
Middle Main Belt111 =< Semi-major axis (a) < 3.27831 and Inclination (i) < 75
Middle Jovian Trojan124.8 < Semi-major axis (a) < 5.4 and Eccentricity < 0.3
Middle Other19Semi-major axis (a) < Semi-major axis (a) of Jupiter and does not fit any other 'middle' category
Outer Jupiter Coupled20Semi-major axis (a) >= 1 and 2 < Tisserand (T) < 3
Outer Neptune Trojan2129.8 < Semi-major axis (a) < 30.4
Outer Centaur22Semi-major axis (a) < Semi-major axis (a) of Neptune
Outer TNO23Semi-major axis (a) < Semi-major axis (a) of Neptune and does not fit any other 'outer' category
Parabolic31Eccentricity = 1
Hyperbolic30Eccentricity > 1
Unusual99