What's New?

• We have added a Printer-friendly Version link to the top of each new look page. The script that generates these pages still needs some tweaking (it loses the first few paragraphs of the main MPC page, for example), but it is useable. [2009 June 26]
• A page listing reported problems with the new look is now available. [2009 June 16]
• Since we have received no negative feedback on the sample new look page we put on-line last week, we are beginning to transition all MPC/CBAT pages over to the new look. We will be doing a global change on all pre-existing HTML pages. Some pages may require tweaks: please report any pages you think are problems. The procedures that update the dynamic pages are being changed: this may take some time. [2009 June 16]
• We have fixed the problem with the updating of the official Czech mirror site for the MPCORB files. We are just waiting for the reconfiguration at the Czech end necessary to allow the files to become visible publically. [2009 June 10]
• Updated documentation on the MPES is now available. [2009 May 16]
• Prompted by the two user requests detailed below, we thought it would be useful to request a variant orbit in the MPES for (or close to) a specified L-O-V sigma. This is now possible, using the form "[sigma=-2.2]" to request an ephemeris as close as possible to L-O-V sigma = -2.2. Compare this with the form "[5]" to request variant orbit number 5. Since a lot of functionality has been added today to the MPES with regard to variant orbits, we will endeavor to update the PDF documentation as soon as possible. [2009 May 13]
• Following a report from the same user as the other update today, the Minor Planet Ephemeris Service now correctly returns variant orbits for routine objects. Previously, if you had entered "(80302) [1]", you would have got the nominal solution, not the L-O-V sigma = -3 solution. The MPES is now consistent with the documentation in this regard. The output has also been extended to indicate how many variant orbits are available for each object (previously, this information was only available by looking at a plot or a table of the sky uncertainty). [2009 May 13]
• Following a request from a user, the Minor Planet Ephemeris Service now indicates the L-O-V sigma if you request a variant orbit. [2009 May 13]
• A new web service allowing video observers to derive the mini normal places needed for submission. Documentation (PDF, 660KB) on using the service is supplied and should be considered mandatory reading. [2009 March 30]
• In the Minor Planet Ephemeris Service, you can now select whether you want azimuths measured from the south or the north meridian. [2009 March 27]
• The secure on-line order form has been reactivated. Apologies for the 8+ month delay in getting the new service on-line, but it was out of our hands. [2008 September 8]
• The raw pointing data files (for those observers who have OK'ed their release) used by the Sky Coverage service are now available [Added 2008 August 22]
• The lists of discovery circumstances for numbered minor planets has been upgraded to included diacritical marks on the names of the minor planets, discovery sites and discoverers. A plain text version of the full listing continues to be available. [Added 2008 June 26]
• A new page with information on observatory codes and requesting help with updating coordinates of assigned codes. [Added 2008 May 6]
• A new version of the cgi script that is executed when one selects "Display all designations for this object" in the MPES has been installed. [Added 2007 July 24]
• A Site Map is now available. [Added 2007 July 12]
• It seems that Google has not yet indexed URLs in the www.cfa.harvard.edu domain. The search site facility has been extended to allow searching of both cfa-www and cfa.www URLs. [Added 2007 June 28]
• A new service to help identify objects: NEOCMTChecker, which helps identify NEOs and comets. This works on a subset of the datafile used by MPChecker and so returns results much more quickly. [Added 2007 June 17]
• A new ECS service to allow extraction of observations of specific minor planets, comets and natural satellites: MPCOBS. [Added 2007 June 14]
• A new service to help observers identify possible NEOs: NEO Rating. [Added 2007 May 27]
• Two new services that help identify objects: NEOChecker, which helps identify NEOs; and CMTChecker, which helps identify comets. These work on subsets of the datafile used by MPChecker and so return results much more quickly. [Added 2007 March 14]
• An updated version of the new observation format is available. A PDF version is available by HTTP for those who have difficulty accessing the ftp site. [Added 2006 June 20]
• Access to some MPC-published citations for named minor planets is now possible through the MPES. [Added 2006 April 20]
• The 2006 March 14 update to the list of light-curve parameters has now been posted. [Added 2006 March 28]
• New service added to ECS: MPCArchive. This allows access to PDF versions of back issues of the MPCs, MPSs and MPOs. As of 16:44 EST, March 1, all available MPC (back to late 1979) and MPO batches are on-line. [Added 2006 Feb. 28]
• Added a section of the use of spam-blocking systems and how to submit observations from two or more observatory codes in the same message. [Added 2005 Oct. 31]
• The 16th edition of the Catalogue of Cometary Orbits is now available. [Added 2005 Sept. 28]