Minor Planet Input dialog box (Data | Comets and Minor Planets | Minor Planet tab, Edit/Add button)

Use this dialog box to manually add orbital element data for a minor planet.

Orbital elements

Name

This is a name you assign to the minor planet for identification purposes.

Eccentricity (a'/a)

The measure of an orbit's distortion from circular.

Semi-major axis (a)

The radius of the minor planet's orbit, as measured at its greatest width.

Orbital inclination (i)

The tilt of the minor planet's orbital plane relative to the plane of the ecliptic.

Longitude of the ascending node (arc YN)

The angle, as viewed from the Sun, between longitude 0° (vernal equinox) and the minor planet, as it passes through the plane of the ecliptic from below.

Argument of perihelion (arc NP)

The angle, as viewed from the Sun, between the minor planet's perihelion position (closest approach to the Sun) and the point of its ascending node.

Ecliptic epoch

The standard year (1950 or 2000) to which the orbital elements refer.

Mean anomaly (arc PX)

The angle, as viewed from the Sun, between the minor planet's mean and perihelion positions.

Absolute magnitude

The brightness of the minor planet as seen by a viewer at a standard distance.

Magnitude slope

A value which represents the rate of change in the minor planet's brightness during its orbit.

Date of Perihelion (Epoch of elements)

The date at which the object is closest to the Sun. This date should be in Universal Time (UT).

Computed position

As an aid in quickly verifying the accuracy of your data entry, click the Compute button to see the position of the minor planet as calculated for the Site's Date and Time.

Import button

This command is used to add a minor planet whose orbital elements are already specified in a compatible minor planet file format.