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Hub AI
Minor-planet designation AI simulator
(@Minor-planet designation_simulator)
Hub AI
Minor-planet designation AI simulator
(@Minor-planet designation_simulator)
Minor-planet designation
A formal minor-planet designation is, in its final form, a number–name combination given to a minor planet (asteroid, centaur, trans-Neptunian object and dwarf planet but not comet). Such designation always features a leading number (catalog or IAU number) assigned to a body once its orbital path is sufficiently secured (so-called "numbering"). The formal designation is based on the minor planet's provisional designation, which was previously assigned automatically when it had been observed for the first time. Later on, the provisional part of the formal designation may be replaced with a name (so-called "naming"). Both formal and provisional designations are overseen by the Minor Planet Center (MPC), a branch of the International Astronomical Union.
Currently, a number is assigned only after the orbit has been secured by four well-observed oppositions. For unusual objects, such as near-Earth asteroids, numbering might already occur after three, maybe even only two, oppositions. Among more than half a million minor planets that received a number, only about 20 thousand (or 4%) have received a name. In addition, approximately 700,000 minor planets have not been numbered, as of November 2023.
The convention for satellites of minor planets, such as the formal designation (87) Sylvia I Romulus for the asteroid moon Romulus, is an extension of the Roman numeral convention that had been used, on and off, for the moons of the planets since Galileo's time. Comets are also managed by the MPC, but use a different cataloguing system.
A formal compound designation consists of two parts: a catalog number, historically assigned in approximate order of discovery, and either the minor planet's provisional designation, or a proper name, typically proposed by the discoverer, once that is given.
The official format of such designations, as set by the IAU and WGSBN, is of the form:
The parentheses are a historical remnant of the circled numbers that once served as planetary symbols of asteroids, such as ④ for (4) Vesta.
Other authorities use slightly different formats. The JPL Small-Body Database uses the form:
Here parentheses are not used to delimit the catalog number, but they are used to set off the provisional designation as a parenthetical identifier. Subscripting is not used, at least online.
Minor-planet designation
A formal minor-planet designation is, in its final form, a number–name combination given to a minor planet (asteroid, centaur, trans-Neptunian object and dwarf planet but not comet). Such designation always features a leading number (catalog or IAU number) assigned to a body once its orbital path is sufficiently secured (so-called "numbering"). The formal designation is based on the minor planet's provisional designation, which was previously assigned automatically when it had been observed for the first time. Later on, the provisional part of the formal designation may be replaced with a name (so-called "naming"). Both formal and provisional designations are overseen by the Minor Planet Center (MPC), a branch of the International Astronomical Union.
Currently, a number is assigned only after the orbit has been secured by four well-observed oppositions. For unusual objects, such as near-Earth asteroids, numbering might already occur after three, maybe even only two, oppositions. Among more than half a million minor planets that received a number, only about 20 thousand (or 4%) have received a name. In addition, approximately 700,000 minor planets have not been numbered, as of November 2023.
The convention for satellites of minor planets, such as the formal designation (87) Sylvia I Romulus for the asteroid moon Romulus, is an extension of the Roman numeral convention that had been used, on and off, for the moons of the planets since Galileo's time. Comets are also managed by the MPC, but use a different cataloguing system.
A formal compound designation consists of two parts: a catalog number, historically assigned in approximate order of discovery, and either the minor planet's provisional designation, or a proper name, typically proposed by the discoverer, once that is given.
The official format of such designations, as set by the IAU and WGSBN, is of the form:
The parentheses are a historical remnant of the circled numbers that once served as planetary symbols of asteroids, such as ④ for (4) Vesta.
Other authorities use slightly different formats. The JPL Small-Body Database uses the form:
Here parentheses are not used to delimit the catalog number, but they are used to set off the provisional designation as a parenthetical identifier. Subscripting is not used, at least online.