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- MPCClass

# MPCClass

class astroquery.mpc.MPCClass

  Bases: `BaseQuery`

  Attributes Summary

  `MPCOBS_URL` |
  `MPC_PASSWORD` |
  `MPC_URL` |
  `MPC_USERNAME` |
  `MPES_URL` |
  `OBSERVATORY_CODES_URL` |
  `TIMEOUT` |

  Methods Summary

  `get_ephemeris`(*args, **kwargs) | Queries the service and returns a table object.
  `get_ephemeris_async`(target, *[, location, ...]) | Object ephemerides from the Minor Planet Ephemeris Service.
  `get_observations`(*args, **kwargs) | Queries the service and returns a table object.
  `get_observations_async`(targetid, *[, ...]) | Obtain all reported observations for an asteroid or a comet from the Minor Planet Center observations database.
  `get_observatory_codes`(*args, **kwargs) | Queries the service and returns a table object.
  `get_observatory_codes_async`(*[, cache]) | Table of observatory codes from the IAU Minor Planet Center.
  `get_observatory_location`(code, *[, cache]) | IAU observatory location.
  `query_object`(*args, **kwargs) | Queries the service and returns a table object.
  `query_object_async`(target_type, *[, ...]) | Query around a specific object within a given mission catalog.
  `query_objects`(*args, **kwargs) | Queries the service and returns a table object.
  `query_objects_async`(target_type, *[, ...]) | Query around a specific object within a given mission catalog

  Attributes Documentation

  MPCOBS_URL = 'http://minorplanetcenter.net/search_db'
  MPC_PASSWORD = 'mpc!!ws'
  MPC_URL = 'https://minorplanetcenter.net/web_service'
  MPC_USERNAME = 'mpc_ws'
  MPES_URL = 'https://cgi.minorplanetcenter.net/cgi-bin/mpeph2.cgi'
  OBSERVATORY_CODES_URL = 'https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/ObsCodes.html'
  TIMEOUT = 60

  Methods Documentation

  get_ephemeris(*args, **kwargs)

    Queries the service and returns a table object.

    Object ephemerides from the Minor Planet Ephemeris Service.

    Parameters:
      target str

        Designation of the object of interest. See Notes for acceptable formats.

      location str, array-like, or `EarthLocation`, optional

        Observer’s location as an IAU observatory code, a 3-element array of Earth longitude, latitude, altitude, or a `EarthLocation`. Longitude and latitude should be anything that initializes an `Angle` object, and altitude should initialize an `Quantity` object (with units of length). If `None`, then the geocenter (code 500) is used.

      start str or `Time`, optional

        First epoch of the ephemeris as a string (UT), or astropy `Time`. Strings are parsed by `Time`. If `None`, then today is used. Valid dates span the time period 1900 Jan 1 - 2099 Dec 31 [MPES].

      step str or `Quantity`, optional

        The ephemeris step size or interval in units of days, hours, minutes, or seconds. Strings are parsed by `Quantity`. All inputs are rounded to the nearest integer. Default is 1 day.

      number int, optional

        The number of ephemeris dates to compute. Must be ≤1441. If `None`, the value depends on the units of `step`: 21 for days, 49 for hours, 121 for minutes, or 301 for seconds.

      ut_offset int, optional

        Number of hours to offset from 0 UT for daily ephemerides.

      eph_type str, optional

        Specify the type of ephemeris:

            equatorial: RA and Dec (default)
            heliocentric: heliocentric position and velocity vectors
            geocentric: geocentric position vector

      ra_format dict, optional

        Format the RA column with `to_string` using these keyword arguments, e.g., `{'sep': ':', 'unit': 'hourangle', 'precision': 1}`.

      dec_format dict, optional

        Format the Dec column with `to_string` using these keyword arguments, e.g., `{'sep': ':', 'precision': 0}`.

      proper_motion str, optional

        total: total motion and direction (default) coordinate: separate RA and Dec coordinate motion sky: separate RA and Dec sky motion (i.e., includes a cos(Dec) term).

      proper_motion_unit string or Unit, optional

        Convert proper motion to this unit. Must be an angular rate. Default is ‘arcsec/h’.

      suppress_daytime bool, optional

        Suppress output when the Sun is above the local horizon. (default `False`)

      suppress_set bool, optional

        Suppress output when the object is below the local horizon. (default `False`)

      perturbed bool, optional

        Generate perturbed ephemerides for unperturbed orbits (default `True`).

      unc_links bool, optional

        Return columns with uncertainty map and offset links, if available.

      get_query_payload bool, optional

        Return the HTTP request parameters as a dictionary (default: `False`).

      cache bool

        Defaults to False. If set overrides global caching behavior. See caching documentation.

    Returns:
      table A `Table` object.

    Notes

    See the MPES user’s guide [MPES] for details on options and implementation.

    MPES allows azimuths to be measured eastwards from the north meridian, or westwards from the south meridian. However, the `AltAz` coordinate frame assumes eastwards of north. To remain consistent with Astropy, eastwards of north is used.

    Acceptable target names [MPES] are listed in the tables below.

    Attention

    Asteroid designations in the text version of the documentation may be prefixed with a backslash, which should be ignored. This is to force correct rendering of the designation in the rendered versions of the documentation (e.g., HTML).

    Target | Description
    --- | ---
    (3202) | Numbered minor planet (3202)
    14829 | Numbered minor planet (14829)
    1997 XF11 | Unnumbered minor planet 1997 XF11
    1P | Comet 1P/Halley
    C/2003 A2 | Comet C/2003 A2 (Gleason)
    P/2003 CP7 | Comet P/2003 CP7 (LINEAR-NEAT)

    For comets, P/ and C/ are interchangeable. The designation may also be in a packed format:

    Target | Description
    --- | ---
    00233 | Numbered minor planet (233)
    K03A07A | Unnumbered minor planet 2003 AA7
    PK03C07P | Comet P/2003 CP7 (LINEAR-NEAT)
    0039P | Comet 39P/Oterma

    You may also search by name:

    Target | Description
    --- | ---
    Encke | (9134) Encke
    Africa | (1193) Africa
    Africano | (6391) Africano
    P/Encke | 2P/Encke
    C/Encke | 2P/Encke
    C/Gleason | C/2003 A2 (Gleason)

    If a comet name is not unique, the first match will be returned.

    References

    [MPES] (1,2,3)

    Williams, G. The Minor Planet Ephemeris Service. https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/info/MPES.pdf (retrieved 2018 June 19).

    Examples

        >>> from astroquery.mpc import MPC
        >>> tab = astroquery.mpc.MPC.get_ephemeris('(24)', location=568,
        ...            start='2003-02-26', step='100d', number=3)
        >>> print(tab)

  get_ephemeris_async(target, *, location='500', start=None, step='1d', number=None, ut_offset=0, eph_type='equatorial', ra_format=None, dec_format=None, proper_motion='total', proper_motion_unit='arcsec/h', suppress_daytime=False, suppress_set=False, perturbed=True, unc_links=False, get_query_payload=False, cache=False)

    Object ephemerides from the Minor Planet Ephemeris Service.

    Parameters:
      target str

        Designation of the object of interest. See Notes for acceptable formats.

      location str, array-like, or `EarthLocation`, optional

        Observer’s location as an IAU observatory code, a 3-element array of Earth longitude, latitude, altitude, or a `EarthLocation`. Longitude and latitude should be anything that initializes an `Angle` object, and altitude should initialize an `Quantity` object (with units of length). If `None`, then the geocenter (code 500) is used.

      start str or `Time`, optional

        First epoch of the ephemeris as a string (UT), or astropy `Time`. Strings are parsed by `Time`. If `None`, then today is used. Valid dates span the time period 1900 Jan 1 - 2099 Dec 31 [MPES].

      step str or `Quantity`, optional

        The ephemeris step size or interval in units of days, hours, minutes, or seconds. Strings are parsed by `Quantity`. All inputs are rounded to the nearest integer. Default is 1 day.

      number int, optional

        The number of ephemeris dates to compute. Must be ≤1441. If `None`, the value depends on the units of `step`: 21 for days, 49 for hours, 121 for minutes, or 301 for seconds.

      ut_offset int, optional

        Number of hours to offset from 0 UT for daily ephemerides.

      eph_type str, optional

        Specify the type of ephemeris:

            equatorial: RA and Dec (default)
            heliocentric: heliocentric position and velocity vectors
            geocentric: geocentric position vector

      ra_format dict, optional

        Format the RA column with `to_string` using these keyword arguments, e.g., `{'sep': ':', 'unit': 'hourangle', 'precision': 1}`.

      dec_format dict, optional

        Format the Dec column with `to_string` using these keyword arguments, e.g., `{'sep': ':', 'precision': 0}`.

      proper_motion str, optional

        total: total motion and direction (default) coordinate: separate RA and Dec coordinate motion sky: separate RA and Dec sky motion (i.e., includes a cos(Dec) term).

      proper_motion_unit string or Unit, optional

        Convert proper motion to this unit. Must be an angular rate. Default is ‘arcsec/h’.

      suppress_daytime bool, optional

        Suppress output when the Sun is above the local horizon. (default `False`)

      suppress_set bool, optional

        Suppress output when the object is below the local horizon. (default `False`)

      perturbed bool, optional

        Generate perturbed ephemerides for unperturbed orbits (default `True`).

      unc_links bool, optional

        Return columns with uncertainty map and offset links, if available.

      get_query_payload bool, optional

        Return the HTTP request parameters as a dictionary (default: `False`).

      cache bool

        Defaults to False. If set overrides global caching behavior. See caching documentation.

    Returns:
      response `requests.Response`

        The HTTP response returned from the service.

    Notes

    See the MPES user’s guide [MPES] for details on options and implementation.

    MPES allows azimuths to be measured eastwards from the north meridian, or westwards from the south meridian. However, the `AltAz` coordinate frame assumes eastwards of north. To remain consistent with Astropy, eastwards of north is used.

    Acceptable target names [MPES] are listed in the tables below.

    Attention

    Asteroid designations in the text version of the documentation may be prefixed with a backslash, which should be ignored. This is to force correct rendering of the designation in the rendered versions of the documentation (e.g., HTML).

    Target | Description
    --- | ---
    (3202) | Numbered minor planet (3202)
    14829 | Numbered minor planet (14829)
    1997 XF11 | Unnumbered minor planet 1997 XF11
    1P | Comet 1P/Halley
    C/2003 A2 | Comet C/2003 A2 (Gleason)
    P/2003 CP7 | Comet P/2003 CP7 (LINEAR-NEAT)

    For comets, P/ and C/ are interchangeable. The designation may also be in a packed format:

    Target | Description
    --- | ---
    00233 | Numbered minor planet (233)
    K03A07A | Unnumbered minor planet 2003 AA7
    PK03C07P | Comet P/2003 CP7 (LINEAR-NEAT)
    0039P | Comet 39P/Oterma

    You may also search by name:

    Target | Description
    --- | ---
    Encke | (9134) Encke
    Africa | (1193) Africa
    Africano | (6391) Africano
    P/Encke | 2P/Encke
    C/Encke | 2P/Encke
    C/Gleason | C/2003 A2 (Gleason)

    If a comet name is not unique, the first match will be returned.

    References

    [MPES] (1,2,3)

    Williams, G. The Minor Planet Ephemeris Service. https://minorplanetcenter.net/iau/info/MPES.pdf (retrieved 2018 June 19).

    Examples

        >>> from astroquery.mpc import MPC
        >>> tab = astroquery.mpc.MPC.get_ephemeris('(24)', location=568,
        ...            start='2003-02-26', step='100d', number=3)
        >>> print(tab)

  get_observations(*args, **kwargs)

    Queries the service and returns a table object.

    Obtain all reported observations for an asteroid or a comet from the Minor Planet Center observations database.

    Deprecated since version 0.4.8: The `get_raw_response` keyword argument is deprecated. The `get_observations_async` method will return a raw response.

    Parameters:
      targetid int or str

        Official target number or designation. If a number is provided (either as int or str), the input is interpreted as an asteroid number; asteroid designations are interpreted as such (note that a whitespace between the year and the remainder of the designation is required and no packed designations are allowed). To query a periodic comet number, you have to append `'P'`, e.g., `'234P'`. To query any comet designation, the designation has to start with a letter describing the comet type and a slash, e.g., `'C/2018 E1'`. Comet or asteroid names, Palomar-Leiden Survey designations, and individual comet fragments cannot be queried.

      id_type str, optional

        Manual override for identifier type. If `None`, the identifier type is derived by parsing `targetid`; if this automated classification fails, it can be set manually using this parameter. Possible values are `'asteroid number'`, `'asteroid designation'`, `'comet number'`, and `'comet designation'`. Default: `None`

      get_mpcformat bool, optional

        If `True`, this method will return an `QTable` with only a single column holding the original MPC 80-column observation format. Default: `False`

      get_raw_response bool, optional

        If `True`, this method will return the raw output from the MPC servers (json). Default: `False`

      get_query_payload bool, optional

        Return the HTTP request parameters as a dictionary (default: `False`).

      cache bool

        Defaults to True. If set overrides global caching behavior. See caching documentation.

    Returns:
      table A `Table` object.
    Raises:
      RuntimeError

        If query did not return any data.

      ValueError

        If target name could not be parsed properly and target type could not be identified.

    Notes

    The following quantities are included in the output table

    Column Name | Definition
    --- | ---
    `number` | official IAU target number (int)
    `desig` | provisional target designation (str)
    `discovery` (*) | target discovery flag (str)
    `comettype` (*) | orbital type of comet (str)
    `note1` (#) | Note1 (str)
    `note2` (#) | Note2 (str)
    `epoch` | epoch of observation (Julian Date, float)
    `RA` | RA reported (J2000, deg, float)
    `DEC` | declination reported (J2000, deg, float)
    `mag` | reported magnitude (mag, float)
    `band` (*) | photometric band for `mag` (str)
    `phottype` (*) | comet photometry type (nuclear/total, str)
    `catalog` (!) | star catalog used in the observation (str)
    `observatory` | IAU observatory code (str)

    (*): Column names are optional and depend on whether an asteroid or a comet has been queried.

    (#): Parameters `Note1` and `Note2` are defined in the MPC 80-column format description

    (!): Description of star catalog codes

    Examples

        >>> from astroquery.mpc import MPC
        >>> MPC.get_observations(12893)
        <QTable length=2772>
        number   desig   discovery note1 ... band catalog observatory
                                         ...
        int32     str9      str1    str1 ... str1   str1      str3
        ------ --------- --------- ----- ... ---- ------- -----------
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...   --      --         413
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...   --      --         413
         12893 1998 QS55         *     4 ...   --      --         809
         12893 1998 QS55        --     4 ...   --      --         809
         12893 1998 QS55        --     4 ...   --      --         809
           ...       ...       ...   ... ...  ...     ...         ...
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         T05
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         M22
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         M22
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         M22
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         M22

  get_observations_async(targetid, *, id_type=None, get_mpcformat=False, get_raw_response=False, get_query_payload=False, cache=True)

    Obtain all reported observations for an asteroid or a comet from the Minor Planet Center observations database.

    Deprecated since version 0.4.8: The `get_raw_response` keyword argument is deprecated. The `get_observations_async` method will return a raw response.

    Parameters:
      targetid int or str

        Official target number or designation. If a number is provided (either as int or str), the input is interpreted as an asteroid number; asteroid designations are interpreted as such (note that a whitespace between the year and the remainder of the designation is required and no packed designations are allowed). To query a periodic comet number, you have to append `'P'`, e.g., `'234P'`. To query any comet designation, the designation has to start with a letter describing the comet type and a slash, e.g., `'C/2018 E1'`. Comet or asteroid names, Palomar-Leiden Survey designations, and individual comet fragments cannot be queried.

      id_type str, optional

        Manual override for identifier type. If `None`, the identifier type is derived by parsing `targetid`; if this automated classification fails, it can be set manually using this parameter. Possible values are `'asteroid number'`, `'asteroid designation'`, `'comet number'`, and `'comet designation'`. Default: `None`

      get_mpcformat bool, optional

        If `True`, this method will return an `QTable` with only a single column holding the original MPC 80-column observation format. Default: `False`

      get_raw_response bool, optional

        If `True`, this method will return the raw output from the MPC servers (json). Default: `False`

      get_query_payload bool, optional

        Return the HTTP request parameters as a dictionary (default: `False`).

      cache bool

        Defaults to True. If set overrides global caching behavior. See caching documentation.

    Raises:
      RuntimeError

        If query did not return any data.

      ValueError

        If target name could not be parsed properly and target type could not be identified.

    Notes

    The following quantities are included in the output table

    Column Name | Definition
    --- | ---
    `number` | official IAU target number (int)
    `desig` | provisional target designation (str)
    `discovery` (*) | target discovery flag (str)
    `comettype` (*) | orbital type of comet (str)
    `note1` (#) | Note1 (str)
    `note2` (#) | Note2 (str)
    `epoch` | epoch of observation (Julian Date, float)
    `RA` | RA reported (J2000, deg, float)
    `DEC` | declination reported (J2000, deg, float)
    `mag` | reported magnitude (mag, float)
    `band` (*) | photometric band for `mag` (str)
    `phottype` (*) | comet photometry type (nuclear/total, str)
    `catalog` (!) | star catalog used in the observation (str)
    `observatory` | IAU observatory code (str)

    (*): Column names are optional and depend on whether an asteroid or a comet has been queried.

    (#): Parameters `Note1` and `Note2` are defined in the MPC 80-column format description

    (!): Description of star catalog codes

    Examples

        >>> from astroquery.mpc import MPC
        >>> MPC.get_observations(12893)
        <QTable length=2772>
        number   desig   discovery note1 ... band catalog observatory
                                         ...
        int32     str9      str1    str1 ... str1   str1      str3
        ------ --------- --------- ----- ... ---- ------- -----------
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...   --      --         413
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...   --      --         413
         12893 1998 QS55         *     4 ...   --      --         809
         12893 1998 QS55        --     4 ...   --      --         809
         12893 1998 QS55        --     4 ...   --      --         809
           ...       ...       ...   ... ...  ...     ...         ...
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         T05
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         M22
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         M22
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         M22
         12893 1998 QS55        --    -- ...    o       V         M22

  get_observatory_codes(*args, **kwargs)

    Queries the service and returns a table object.

    Table of observatory codes from the IAU Minor Planet Center.

    Parameters:
      cache bool

        Defaults to True. If set overrides global caching behavior. See caching documentation.

    Returns:
      table A `Table` object.

    References

    Examples

        >>> from astroquery.mpc import MPC
        >>> obs = MPC.get_observatory_codes()
        >>> print(obs[295])
        Code Longitude   cos       sin         Name
        ---- --------- -------- --------- -------------
        309 289.59569 0.909943 -0.414336 Cerro Paranal

  get_observatory_codes_async(*, cache=True)

    Table of observatory codes from the IAU Minor Planet Center.

    Parameters:
      cache bool

        Defaults to True. If set overrides global caching behavior. See caching documentation.

    Returns:
      response `requests.Response`

        The HTTP response returned from the service.

    References

    Examples

        >>> from astroquery.mpc import MPC
        >>> obs = MPC.get_observatory_codes()
        >>> print(obs[295])
        Code Longitude   cos       sin         Name
        ---- --------- -------- --------- -------------
        309 289.59569 0.909943 -0.414336 Cerro Paranal

  get_observatory_location(code, *, cache=True)

    IAU observatory location.

    Parameters:
      code string

        Three-character IAU observatory code.

      cache bool

        Defaults to True. If set overrides global caching behavior. See caching documentation.

    Returns:
      longitude Angle

        Observatory longitude (east of Greenwich).

      cos float

        Parallax constant `rho * cos(phi)` where `rho` is the geocentric distance in earth radii, and `phi` is the geocentric latitude.

      sin float

        Parallax constant `rho * sin(phi)`.

      name string

        The name of the observatory.

    Raises:
      LookupError

        If `code` is not found in the MPC table.

    Examples

        >>> from astroquery.mpc import MPC
        >>> obs = MPC.get_observatory_location('000')
        >>> print(obs)
        (<Angle 0. deg>, 0.62411, 0.77873, 'Greenwich')

  query_object(*args, **kwargs)

    Queries the service and returns a table object.

    Query around a specific object within a given mission catalog. When searching for a comet, it will return the entry with the latest epoch.

    The following are valid query parameters for the MPC API search. The params list and description are from https://minorplanetcenter.net/web_service/ and are accurate as of 3/6/2018.

    Parameters:
      target_type str

        Search for either a comet or an asteroid, with the two valid values being, naturally, “comet” and “asteroid”

      updated_at str

        Date-time when the Orbits table was last updated (YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ). Note: the documentation lists this field as “orbit-updated-at”, but the service response contained “updated_at”, which appears to correlate and can also be used as a query parameter.

      name str

        The object’s name; e.g., Eros. This can be queried as ‘Eros’ or ‘eros’. If the object has not yet been named, this field will be ‘null’.

      number integer

        The object’s number; e.g., 433. If the object has not yet been numbered, this field will be ‘null’.

      designation str

        The object’s provisional designation (e.g., 2014 AA) if it has not been numbered yet. If the object has been numbered, this number is its permanent designation and is what the ‘designation’ parameter will return, padded with leading zeroes for a total of 7 digits; e.g., ‘0000433’. When querying for provisional designations, because white spaces aren’t allowed in the query, escape the space with either a ‘+’ or ‘%20’; e.g., ‘2014+AA’ or ‘2014%20AA’.

      epoch str

        The date/time of reference for the current orbital parameters.

      epoch_jd str

        The Julian Date of the epoch.

      period (years)str

        Time it takes for the object to complete one orbit around the Sun.

      semimajor_axis str

        a, one half of the longest diameter of the orbital ellipse. (AU)

      aphelion_distance str

        The distance when the object is furthest from the Sun in its orbit. (AU)

      perihelion_distance str

        The distance when the object is nearest to the Sun in its orbit. (AU)

      perihelion_date str

        Date when the object is at perihelion, i.e., reaches its closest point to the Sun.

      perihelion_date_jd str

        The Julian Date of perihelion.

      argument_of_perihelion (°)str

        ω, defines the orientation of the ellipse in the orbital plane and is the angle from the object’s ascending node to its perihelion, measured in the direction of motion. Range: 0–360°.

      ascending_node (°)str

        Ω, the longitude of the ascending node, it defines the horizontal orientation of the ellipse with respect to the ecliptic, and is the angle measured counterclockwise (as seen from North of the ecliptic) from the First Point of Aries to the ascending node. Range: 0–360°.

      inclination (°)str

        i, the angle between the object’s orbit and the ecliptic. Range: 0–180°.

      eccentricity str

        e, a measure of how far the orbit shape departs from a circle. Range: 0–1, with e = 0 being a perfect circle, intermediate values being ellipses ever more elongated as e increases, and e = 1 describing a parabola.

      mean_anomaly (°)str

        M, is related to the position of the object along its orbit at the given epoch. Range: 0–360°.

      mean_daily_motion (°/day)str

        n, a measure of the average speed of the object along its orbit.

      absolute_magnitude str

        H, apparent magnitude the object would have if it were observed from 1 AU away at zero phase, while it was 1 AU away from the Sun. Note this is geometrically impossible and is equivalent to observing the object from the center of the Sun.

      phase_slope str

        G, slope parameter as calculated or assumed by the MPC. The slope parameter is a measure of how much brighter the object gets as its phase angle decreases. When not known, a value of G = 0.15 is assumed.

      orbit_type integer

        Asteroids are classified from a dynamics perspective by the area of the Solar System in which they orbit. A number identifies each orbit type. 0: Unclassified (mostly Main Belters) 1: Atiras 2: Atens 3: Apollos 4: Amors 5: Mars Crossers 6: Hungarias 7: Phocaeas 8: Hildas 9: Jupiter Trojans 10: Distant Objects

      delta_v (km/sec)float

        Δv, an estimate of the amount of energy necessary to jump from LEO (Low Earth Orbit) to the object’s orbit.

      tisserand_jupiter float

        TJ, Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter, which is a quasi-invariant value for each object and is frequently used to distinguish objects (typically TJ > 3) from Jupiter-family comets (typically 2 < TJ < 3).

      neo bool

        value = 1 flags Near Earth Objects (NEOs).

      km_neo bool

        value = 1 flags NEOs larger than ~1 km in diameter.

      pha bool

        value = 1 flags Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).

      mercury_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Mercury. (AU)

      venus_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Venus. (AU)

      earth_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Earth. (AU)

      mars_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Mars. (AU)

      jupiter_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Jupiter. (AU)

      saturn_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Saturn. (AU)

      uranus_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Uranus. (AU)

      neptune_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Neptune. (AU)

    Returns:
      table A `Table` object.
  query_object_async(target_type, *, get_query_payload=False, **kwargs)

    Query around a specific object within a given mission catalog. When searching for a comet, it will return the entry with the latest epoch.

    The following are valid query parameters for the MPC API search. The params list and description are from https://minorplanetcenter.net/web_service/ and are accurate as of 3/6/2018.

    Parameters:
      target_type str

        Search for either a comet or an asteroid, with the two valid values being, naturally, “comet” and “asteroid”

      updated_at str

        Date-time when the Orbits table was last updated (YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ). Note: the documentation lists this field as “orbit-updated-at”, but the service response contained “updated_at”, which appears to correlate and can also be used as a query parameter.

      name str

        The object’s name; e.g., Eros. This can be queried as ‘Eros’ or ‘eros’. If the object has not yet been named, this field will be ‘null’.

      number integer

        The object’s number; e.g., 433. If the object has not yet been numbered, this field will be ‘null’.

      designation str

        The object’s provisional designation (e.g., 2014 AA) if it has not been numbered yet. If the object has been numbered, this number is its permanent designation and is what the ‘designation’ parameter will return, padded with leading zeroes for a total of 7 digits; e.g., ‘0000433’. When querying for provisional designations, because white spaces aren’t allowed in the query, escape the space with either a ‘+’ or ‘%20’; e.g., ‘2014+AA’ or ‘2014%20AA’.

      epoch str

        The date/time of reference for the current orbital parameters.

      epoch_jd str

        The Julian Date of the epoch.

      period (years)str

        Time it takes for the object to complete one orbit around the Sun.

      semimajor_axis str

        a, one half of the longest diameter of the orbital ellipse. (AU)

      aphelion_distance str

        The distance when the object is furthest from the Sun in its orbit. (AU)

      perihelion_distance str

        The distance when the object is nearest to the Sun in its orbit. (AU)

      perihelion_date str

        Date when the object is at perihelion, i.e., reaches its closest point to the Sun.

      perihelion_date_jd str

        The Julian Date of perihelion.

      argument_of_perihelion (°)str

        ω, defines the orientation of the ellipse in the orbital plane and is the angle from the object’s ascending node to its perihelion, measured in the direction of motion. Range: 0–360°.

      ascending_node (°)str

        Ω, the longitude of the ascending node, it defines the horizontal orientation of the ellipse with respect to the ecliptic, and is the angle measured counterclockwise (as seen from North of the ecliptic) from the First Point of Aries to the ascending node. Range: 0–360°.

      inclination (°)str

        i, the angle between the object’s orbit and the ecliptic. Range: 0–180°.

      eccentricity str

        e, a measure of how far the orbit shape departs from a circle. Range: 0–1, with e = 0 being a perfect circle, intermediate values being ellipses ever more elongated as e increases, and e = 1 describing a parabola.

      mean_anomaly (°)str

        M, is related to the position of the object along its orbit at the given epoch. Range: 0–360°.

      mean_daily_motion (°/day)str

        n, a measure of the average speed of the object along its orbit.

      absolute_magnitude str

        H, apparent magnitude the object would have if it were observed from 1 AU away at zero phase, while it was 1 AU away from the Sun. Note this is geometrically impossible and is equivalent to observing the object from the center of the Sun.

      phase_slope str

        G, slope parameter as calculated or assumed by the MPC. The slope parameter is a measure of how much brighter the object gets as its phase angle decreases. When not known, a value of G = 0.15 is assumed.

      orbit_type integer

        Asteroids are classified from a dynamics perspective by the area of the Solar System in which they orbit. A number identifies each orbit type. 0: Unclassified (mostly Main Belters) 1: Atiras 2: Atens 3: Apollos 4: Amors 5: Mars Crossers 6: Hungarias 7: Phocaeas 8: Hildas 9: Jupiter Trojans 10: Distant Objects

      delta_v (km/sec)float

        Δv, an estimate of the amount of energy necessary to jump from LEO (Low Earth Orbit) to the object’s orbit.

      tisserand_jupiter float

        TJ, Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter, which is a quasi-invariant value for each object and is frequently used to distinguish objects (typically TJ > 3) from Jupiter-family comets (typically 2 < TJ < 3).

      neo bool

        value = 1 flags Near Earth Objects (NEOs).

      km_neo bool

        value = 1 flags NEOs larger than ~1 km in diameter.

      pha bool

        value = 1 flags Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).

      mercury_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Mercury. (AU)

      venus_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Venus. (AU)

      earth_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Earth. (AU)

      mars_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Mars. (AU)

      jupiter_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Jupiter. (AU)

      saturn_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Saturn. (AU)

      uranus_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Uranus. (AU)

      neptune_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Neptune. (AU)

  query_objects(*args, **kwargs)

    Queries the service and returns a table object.

    Query around a specific object within a given mission catalog

    The following are valid query parameters for the MPC API search. The params list and description are from https://minorplanetcenter.net/web_service/ and are accurate as of 3/6/2018:

    Parameters:
      target_type str

        Search for either a comet or an asteroid, with the two valid values being, naturally, “comet” and “asteroid”

      updated_at str

        Date-time when the Orbits table was last updated (YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ). Note: the documentation lists this field as “orbit-updated-at”, but the service response contained “updated_at”, which appears to correlate and can also be used as a query parameter.

      name str

        The object’s name; e.g., Eros. This can be queried as ‘Eros’ or ‘eros’. If the object has not yet been named, this field will be ‘null’.

      number integer

        The object’s number; e.g., 433. If the object has not yet been numbered, this field will be ‘null’.

      designation str

        The object’s provisional designation (e.g., 2014 AA) if it has not been numbered yet. If the object has been numbered, this number is its permanent designation and is what the ‘designation’ parameter will return, padded with leading zeroes for a total of 7 digits; e.g., ‘0000433’. When querying for provisional designations, because white spaces aren’t allowed in the query, escape the space with either a ‘+’ or ‘%20’; e.g., ‘2014+AA’ or ‘2014%20AA’.

      epoch str

        The date/time of reference for the current orbital parameters.

      epoch_jd str

        The Julian Date of the epoch.

      period (years)str

        Time it takes for the object to complete one orbit around the Sun.

      semimajor_axis str

        a, one half of the longest diameter of the orbital ellipse. (AU)

      aphelion_distance str

        The distance when the object is furthest from the Sun in its orbit. (AU)

      perihelion_distance str

        The distance when the object is nearest to the Sun in its orbit. (AU)

      perihelion_date str

        Date when the object is at perihelion, i.e., reaches its closest point to the Sun.

      perihelion_date_jd str

        The Julian Date of perihelion.

      argument_of_perihelion (°)str

        ω, defines the orientation of the ellipse in the orbital plane and is the angle from the object’s ascending node to its perihelion, measured in the direction of motion. Range: 0–360°.

      ascending_node (°)str

        Ω, the longitude of the ascending node, it defines the horizontal orientation of the ellipse with respect to the ecliptic, and is the angle measured counterclockwise (as seen from North of the ecliptic) from the First Point of Aries to the ascending node. Range: 0–360°.

      inclination (°)str

        i, the angle between the object’s orbit and the ecliptic. Range: 0–180°.

      eccentricity str

        e, a measure of how far the orbit shape departs from a circle. Range: 0–1, with e = 0 being a perfect circle, intermediate values being ellipses ever more elongated as e increases, and e = 1 describing a parabola.

      mean_anomaly (°)str

        M, is related to the position of the object along its orbit at the given epoch. Range: 0–360°.

      mean_daily_motion (°/day)str

        n, a measure of the average speed of the object along its orbit.

      absolute_magnitude str

        H, apparent magnitude the object would have if it were observed from 1 AU away at zero phase, while it was 1 AU away from the Sun. Note this is geometrically impossible and is equivalent to observing the object from the center of the Sun.

      phase_slope str

        G, slope parameter as calculated or assumed by the MPC. The slope parameter is a measure of how much brighter the object gets as its phase angle decreases. When not known, a value of G = 0.15 is assumed.

      orbit_type integer

        Asteroids are classified from a dynamics perspective by the area of the Solar System in which they orbit. A number identifies each orbit type. 0: Unclassified (mostly Main Belters) 1: Atiras 2: Atens 3: Apollos 4: Amors 5: Mars Crossers 6: Hungarias 7: Phocaeas 8: Hildas 9: Jupiter Trojans 10: Distant Objects

      delta_v (km/sec)float

        Δv, an estimate of the amount of energy necessary to jump from LEO (Low Earth Orbit) to the object’s orbit.

      tisserand_jupiter float

        TJ, Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter, which is a quasi-invariant value for each object and is frequently used to distinguish objects (typically TJ > 3) from Jupiter-family comets (typically 2 < TJ < 3).

      neo bool

        value = 1 flags Near Earth Objects (NEOs).

      km_neo bool

        value = 1 flags NEOs larger than ~1 km in diameter.

      pha bool

        value = 1 flags Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).

      mercury_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Mercury. (AU)

      venus_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Venus. (AU)

      earth_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Earth. (AU)

      mars_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Mars. (AU)

      jupiter_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Jupiter. (AU)

      saturn_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Saturn. (AU)

      uranus_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Uranus. (AU)

      neptune_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Neptune. (AU)

      limit integer

        Limit the number of results to the given value

    Returns:
      table A `Table` object.
  query_objects_async(target_type, *, get_query_payload=False, **kwargs)

    Query around a specific object within a given mission catalog

    The following are valid query parameters for the MPC API search. The params list and description are from https://minorplanetcenter.net/web_service/ and are accurate as of 3/6/2018:

    Parameters:
      target_type str

        Search for either a comet or an asteroid, with the two valid values being, naturally, “comet” and “asteroid”

      updated_at str

        Date-time when the Orbits table was last updated (YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ssZ). Note: the documentation lists this field as “orbit-updated-at”, but the service response contained “updated_at”, which appears to correlate and can also be used as a query parameter.

      name str

        The object’s name; e.g., Eros. This can be queried as ‘Eros’ or ‘eros’. If the object has not yet been named, this field will be ‘null’.

      number integer

        The object’s number; e.g., 433. If the object has not yet been numbered, this field will be ‘null’.

      designation str

        The object’s provisional designation (e.g., 2014 AA) if it has not been numbered yet. If the object has been numbered, this number is its permanent designation and is what the ‘designation’ parameter will return, padded with leading zeroes for a total of 7 digits; e.g., ‘0000433’. When querying for provisional designations, because white spaces aren’t allowed in the query, escape the space with either a ‘+’ or ‘%20’; e.g., ‘2014+AA’ or ‘2014%20AA’.

      epoch str

        The date/time of reference for the current orbital parameters.

      epoch_jd str

        The Julian Date of the epoch.

      period (years)str

        Time it takes for the object to complete one orbit around the Sun.

      semimajor_axis str

        a, one half of the longest diameter of the orbital ellipse. (AU)

      aphelion_distance str

        The distance when the object is furthest from the Sun in its orbit. (AU)

      perihelion_distance str

        The distance when the object is nearest to the Sun in its orbit. (AU)

      perihelion_date str

        Date when the object is at perihelion, i.e., reaches its closest point to the Sun.

      perihelion_date_jd str

        The Julian Date of perihelion.

      argument_of_perihelion (°)str

        ω, defines the orientation of the ellipse in the orbital plane and is the angle from the object’s ascending node to its perihelion, measured in the direction of motion. Range: 0–360°.

      ascending_node (°)str

        Ω, the longitude of the ascending node, it defines the horizontal orientation of the ellipse with respect to the ecliptic, and is the angle measured counterclockwise (as seen from North of the ecliptic) from the First Point of Aries to the ascending node. Range: 0–360°.

      inclination (°)str

        i, the angle between the object’s orbit and the ecliptic. Range: 0–180°.

      eccentricity str

        e, a measure of how far the orbit shape departs from a circle. Range: 0–1, with e = 0 being a perfect circle, intermediate values being ellipses ever more elongated as e increases, and e = 1 describing a parabola.

      mean_anomaly (°)str

        M, is related to the position of the object along its orbit at the given epoch. Range: 0–360°.

      mean_daily_motion (°/day)str

        n, a measure of the average speed of the object along its orbit.

      absolute_magnitude str

        H, apparent magnitude the object would have if it were observed from 1 AU away at zero phase, while it was 1 AU away from the Sun. Note this is geometrically impossible and is equivalent to observing the object from the center of the Sun.

      phase_slope str

        G, slope parameter as calculated or assumed by the MPC. The slope parameter is a measure of how much brighter the object gets as its phase angle decreases. When not known, a value of G = 0.15 is assumed.

      orbit_type integer

        Asteroids are classified from a dynamics perspective by the area of the Solar System in which they orbit. A number identifies each orbit type. 0: Unclassified (mostly Main Belters) 1: Atiras 2: Atens 3: Apollos 4: Amors 5: Mars Crossers 6: Hungarias 7: Phocaeas 8: Hildas 9: Jupiter Trojans 10: Distant Objects

      delta_v (km/sec)float

        Δv, an estimate of the amount of energy necessary to jump from LEO (Low Earth Orbit) to the object’s orbit.

      tisserand_jupiter float

        TJ, Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter, which is a quasi-invariant value for each object and is frequently used to distinguish objects (typically TJ > 3) from Jupiter-family comets (typically 2 < TJ < 3).

      neo bool

        value = 1 flags Near Earth Objects (NEOs).

      km_neo bool

        value = 1 flags NEOs larger than ~1 km in diameter.

      pha bool

        value = 1 flags Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs).

      mercury_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Mercury. (AU)

      venus_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Venus. (AU)

      earth_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Earth. (AU)

      mars_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Mars. (AU)

      jupiter_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Jupiter. (AU)

      saturn_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Saturn. (AU)

      uranus_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Uranus. (AU)

      neptune_moid float

        Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance with respect to Neptune. (AU)

      limit integer

        Limit the number of results to the given value