Minor Planet Center

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The Minor Planet Center ( MPC ) is the official organization for the collection, evaluation and publication of data on minor planets (asteroids, dwarf planets) and comets . It confirms the new discoveries of such objects.

history

The MPC was founded in 1947 at the University of Cincinnati . The first director was Paul Herget . In 1978 - under the direction of Brian Marsden - it became part of the SAO.

organization

IAU logo

The MPC works under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). It is affiliated with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and works with the Harvard College Observatory . It entertains u. a. Online services through which z. B. Amateur astronomers can support the MPC with their own observations. The complete catalog of all currently known minor planets and comets ("Minor Planet Center Orbit Catalog" - MPCORB) can be accessed via the Internet .

The data that is evaluated with the Sentry monitoring system is also collected at the MPC .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Donald E. Ostertbrock, P. Kenneth Seidelmann: Paul Herget 1908-1981 . A Biographical Memoir . Ed .: National Academy of Sciences . 1987, p. 64–65 (English, nap.edu [PDF]).
  2. ^ BG Marsden, GV Williams: The NEO Confirmation Page . In: Planetary and Space Science . 46, No. 2, 1998, p. 299. bibcode : 1998P & SS ... 46..299M . doi : 10.1016 / S0032-0633 (96) 00153-5 . Retrieved April 20, 2016.

Coordinates: 42 ° 22 '53 "  N , 71 ° 7' 41.5"  W.