Download - Nurkowski Mpc
Minor Planet CenterMinor Planet Center
By: Christie NurkowskiBy: Christie Nurkowski
What is MPC?What is MPC? Based at the Based at the
Smithsonian Smithsonian Astrophysical Astrophysical ObservatoryObservatory
It designates minor It designates minor bodies in our solar bodies in our solar systemsystem
It collect information It collect information and publicizes itand publicizes it
What do you observe?What do you observe? Minor Planets (asteroids)Minor Planets (asteroids) Comets (with the CBAT)Comets (with the CBAT) Natural Satellites (with the CBAT)Natural Satellites (with the CBAT)
Equipment Needed to ObserveEquipment Needed to Observe
A telescope A telescope (reflector/refractor)(reflector/refractor)
A computer with a A computer with a CD-ROM driveCD-ROM drive
A clock or watch set A clock or watch set to UTCto UTC
Guide Star Catalogue Guide Star Catalogue softwaresoftware
Jordan HallJordan Hall
Will be your permanent siteWill be your permanent site Obtain an observatory codeObtain an observatory code
Beginning ObserversBeginning Observers Start with average Start with average
sized objectssized objects Observe more than Observe more than
one at a timeone at a time Observe objects of Observe objects of
various brightnessvarious brightness Gain experience Gain experience
before moving to before moving to more “unusual more “unusual objects”objects”
ObservationsObservations Observe over two nights Observe over two nights
or as closely as possibleor as closely as possible Two or three Two or three
observations per each observations per each objectobject
Observe for about an Observe for about an hourhour
Your initial batch Your initial batch contains two nights of contains two nights of observation of more than observation of more than one numbered minor one numbered minor planetplanet
Reporting InformationReporting InformationSpecial formatSpecial formatState only one position for each State only one position for each
observationobservationReport positions of objects in your imagesReport positions of objects in your imagesRequired to includeRequired to include
ObserverObserverMeasurerMeasurerTelescope detailsTelescope details
First Time Submitting Astrometric First Time Submitting Astrometric ObservationsObservations
You must report:You must report:A snail mail addressA snail mail addressObservatory name and siteObservatory name and siteLongitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds)Longitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds)Latitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds)Latitude (degrees, minutes, and seconds)Altitude (meters above sea-level)Altitude (meters above sea-level)Details of telescope set upDetails of telescope set upFirst batch of observationsFirst batch of observations
Sending Information InSending Information InMostly sent in by e-mailMostly sent in by e-mailAstrometric (minor planets) emailed to Astrometric (minor planets) emailed to
MPC – MPC – [email protected]@cfa.harvard.eduComets emailed to CBAT – Comets emailed to CBAT –
[email protected]@cfa.harvard.edu
Observations Processed by MPCObservations Processed by MPC
MPC will send you a noticeMPC will send you a noticeLook at observations when resources are Look at observations when resources are
availableavailableGo in order in which observations are Go in order in which observations are
receivedreceived
Questions?Questions?