Minor Planet Center

The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official place where scientists share information about small objects in space, called minor planets. These include asteroids and other small bodies that orbit the Sun. The MPC works under the guidance of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), an international group of astronomers.

The MPC was founded in 1947 to help organize and keep track of all the discoveries made by astronomers around the world. It is located at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, a famous research center in the United States.

By collecting and sharing data, the MPC helps scientists understand more about our solar system. It plays an important role in naming new objects and keeping a record of all the minor planets that have been found. This work helps astronomers study how these small objects move and how they fit into the big picture of space.

Function

The Minor Planet Center is the official group that collects information about minor planets, like asteroids. It figures out their paths in space and shares this information in publications called Minor Planet Circulars. The center is part of the International Astronomical Union and is based at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

The MPC provides free online tools to help people look for minor planets and comets. It also keeps a complete list of these objects' paths that anyone can download. An important task of the MPC is to help check for possible near-Earth objects, which are space objects that might come close to our planet.

History

The Minor Planet Center started at the University of Cincinnati in 1947. It was led by Paul Herget. When Herget retired in 1978, the center moved to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. There, it kept growing. Many directors have helped the MPC develop and process more observations of minor planets each year.

Directors

• 1947–1978: Paul Herget
• 1978–2006: Brian Marsden
• 2006–2015: Timothy Spahr
• 2015–2021: Matthew Holman
• 2021–present: Matthew Payne

Periodical publications

"Minor Planet Circulars" and "Minor Planet Electronic Circulars" redirect here. For the publication by ALPO, see The Minor Planet Bulletin.

The Minor Planet Center shares important papers about the positions and paths of minor planets, comets, and natural satellites. These papers include the Minor Planet Circulars (MPCs), the Minor Planet Electronic Circulars (MPECs), and the Minor Planet Supplements (MPSs and MPOs). You can find many of these papers on the Minor Planet Center's website.

Minor Planet Circulars (MPCs) began in 1947 and come out around each full moon. They share where minor planets, comets, and some natural satellites are in the sky. They also announce new numbers and names for minor planets. The Minor Planet Electronic Circulars (MPECs) talk about special minor planets and all comets, with updates every day. There are also supplements that share extra details about orbits.

Natural Satellites Ephemeris Service

The Natural Satellites Ephemeris Service is an online service of the Minor Planet Center. It helps people find out about the paths and positions of small moons around the giant planets in our solar system. The service shares important information about these moons, which helps scientists study them.