IAU Minor Planet Center

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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).

All of the MPC's operating funds come from a NASA Near-Earth Object Observations program grant. Much of the computer equipment that the MPC uses was provided by the Tamkin Foundation.

Running Tallies

Near-Earth Objects Discovered

THIS MONTH: 266
THIS YEAR: 3123
ALL TIME: 40581

Minor Planets Discovered

THIS MONTH: 374
THIS YEAR: 24370
ALL TIME: 1486204

Comets Discovered

THIS MONTH: 0
THIS YEAR: 50
ALL TIME: 4621

Observations

THIS MONTH: 3.7 million
THIS YEAR: 44.9 million
ALL TIME: 521.0 million

Close Approaches

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