MPCClass

class astroquery.mpc.MPCClass[source]

Bases: astroquery.query.BaseQuery

Attributes Summary

MPC_PASSWORD
MPC_URL
MPC_USERNAME

Methods Summary

get_mpc_endpoint(target_type)
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

MPC_PASSWORD = 'mpc!!ws'
MPC_URL = 'http://minorplanetcenter.net/web_service'
MPC_USERNAME = 'mpc_ws'

Methods Documentation

get_mpc_endpoint(target_type)[source]
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, *args, **kwargs)[source]

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, *args, **kwargs)[source]

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