Minor Planet Center database

E381550

astronomical database scientific data repository

The Minor Planet Center database is the central international repository that collects, maintains, and disseminates observational and orbital data for asteroids, comets, and other small Solar System bodies.

Try in SPARQL Jump to: Surface forms Disambiguation Statements Elicitation Referenced by

All labels observed (3)

Label	Occurrences
Minor Planet Center	11
Minor Planet Center database canonical	6
Minor Planet Center catalogue	1

How this entity was disambiguated

This entity first appeared as the object of triple T3724035 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.

NED1 Entity disambiguation (via context triple) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Minor Planet Center database
Context triple: [Varuna, cataloguedIn, Minor Planet Center database]

A. UNDSS
UNDSS is the United Nations department responsible for providing leadership, operational support, and oversight of the UN’s security management system to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and operations worldwide.
B. ESA Planetary Science Archive
The ESA Planetary Science Archive is the European Space Agency’s central online repository for storing, managing, and providing access to scientific data from its planetary exploration missions.
C. NASA Exoplanet Archive
The NASA Exoplanet Archive is an online database and research tool that compiles and provides access to confirmed exoplanet discoveries and related observational data for the scientific community.
D. ADS (Astrophysics Data System)
ADS (Astrophysics Data System) is a NASA-funded digital library and search platform that provides comprehensive access to scholarly literature in astronomy, astrophysics, and related physics disciplines.
E. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalogs
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalogs are comprehensive astronomical catalogs that provide precise positional and photometric data for millions of stars, widely used for research and satellite tracking.
F. None of above. chosen
G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.

NED2 Entity disambiguation (via description) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Minor Planet Center database
Target entity description: The Minor Planet Center database is the central international repository that collects, maintains, and disseminates observational and orbital data for asteroids, comets, and other small Solar System bodies.

A. UNDSS
UNDSS is the United Nations department responsible for providing leadership, operational support, and oversight of the UN’s security management system to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and operations worldwide.
B. ESA Planetary Science Archive
The ESA Planetary Science Archive is the European Space Agency’s central online repository for storing, managing, and providing access to scientific data from its planetary exploration missions.
C. NASA Exoplanet Archive
The NASA Exoplanet Archive is an online database and research tool that compiles and provides access to confirmed exoplanet discoveries and related observational data for the scientific community.
D. ADS (Astrophysics Data System)
ADS (Astrophysics Data System) is a NASA-funded digital library and search platform that provides comprehensive access to scholarly literature in astronomy, astrophysics, and related physics disciplines.
E. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalogs
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalogs are comprehensive astronomical catalogs that provide precise positional and photometric data for millions of stars, widely used for research and satellite tracking.
F. None of above. chosen

Statements (48)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	astronomical database ⓘ scientific data repository ⓘ
accessMethod	downloadable data files ⓘ online services ⓘ web-based query tools ⓘ
country	United States ⓘ linked to: United States of America
dataSource	amateur astronomers ⓘ professional observatories ⓘ space-based telescopes ⓘ survey programs ⓘ
dataType	astrometric observations ⓘ designations of small bodies ⓘ discovery circumstances ⓘ ephemerides ⓘ identifications and cross-identifications ⓘ orbital elements ⓘ photometric observations ⓘ
domain	small Solar System bodies ⓘ
field	astronomy ⓘ planetary science ⓘ
hostInstitution	Center for Astrophysics \| Harvard & Smithsonian ⓘ linked to: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
language	English ⓘ
locatedIn	Cambridge, Massachusetts ⓘ
maintainedBy	Minor Planet Center ⓘ linked to: Minor Planet Center database
primaryFunction	collect observational data ⓘ disseminate small-body data ⓘ maintain orbital elements ⓘ
recognizedBy	International Astronomical Union ⓘ
role	central international repository for small-body observations ⓘ official worldwide archive for comet observations ⓘ official worldwide archive for minor planet observations ⓘ
storesDataOn	Centaurs ⓘ asteroids ⓘ comets ⓘ distant minor planets ⓘ interstellar objects ⓘ natural satellites of planets ⓘ near-Earth objects ⓘ temporary captured objects ⓘ trans-Neptunian objects ⓘ
supportsCommunity	global astronomical community ⓘ
supportsPublication	MPECs ⓘ Minor Planet Circulars ⓘ Minor Planet Electronic Circulars ⓘ linked to: Minor Planet Circulars
usedFor	discovery confirmation ⓘ impact risk assessment support ⓘ object identification ⓘ orbit determination ⓘ

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (18)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Varuna → cataloguedIn → Minor Planet Center database ⓘ

20000 Varuna → catalog → Minor Planet Center database ⓘ

(15760) 1992 QB1 → catalog → Minor Planet Center ⓘ