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Minor Planet Center

Minor Planet Center. By: Christie Nurkowski. What is MPC?. Based at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory It designates minor bodies in our solar system It collect information and publicizes it. What do you observe?. Minor Planets (asteroids) Comets (with the CBAT)

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Minor Planet Center

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  1. Minor Planet Center By: Christie Nurkowski

  2. What is MPC? • Based at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory • It designates minor bodies in our solar system • It collect information and publicizes it

  3. What do you observe? • Minor Planets (asteroids) • Comets (with the CBAT) • Natural Satellites (with the CBAT)

  4. Equipment Needed to Observe • A telescope (reflector/refractor) • A computer with a CD-ROM drive • A clock or watch set to UTC • Guide Star Catalogue software

  5. Jordan Hall • Will be your permanent site • Obtain an observatory code

  6. Beginning Observers • Start with average sized objects • Observe more than one at a time • Observe objects of various brightness • Gain experience before moving to more “unusual objects”

  7. Observations • Observe over two nights or as closely as possible • Two or three observations per each object • Observe for about an hour • Your initial batch contains two nights of observation of more than one numbered minor planet

  8. Reporting Information • Special format • State only one position for each observation • Report positions of objects in your images • Required to include • Observer • Measurer • Telescope details

  9. First Time Submitting Astrometric Observations • You must report: • A snail mail address • Observatory name and site • Longitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds) • Latitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds) • Altitude (meters above sea-level) • Details of telescope set up • First batch of observations

  10. Sending Information In • Mostly sent in by e-mail • Astrometric (minor planets) emailed to MPC – mpc@cfa.harvard.edu • Comets emailed to CBAT – cbat@cfa.harvard.edu

  11. Observations Processed by MPC • MPC will send you a notice • Look at observations when resources are available • Go in order in which observations are received

  12. Questions?

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