[Iaude] MPEC K201: Reporting Identifications

[mpec at marsden.cfa.harvard.edu]

M.P.E.C. 2020-K201                                 Issued 2020 May 27, 19:11 UT

     The Minor Planet Electronic Circulars contain information on unusual
         minor planets and routine data on comets.  They are published
    on behalf of Division F of the International Astronomical Union by the
          Minor Planet Center, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory,
                          Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.

             Prepared using the Tamkin Foundation Computer Network

                              MPC at CFA.HARVARD.EDU
            URL https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/    ISSN 1523-6714

                           Reporting Identifications                            

     The Minor Planet Center (MPC) uses the term "identification" to refer 
to the situation when two or more designated orbits are discovered to
correspond to the same underlying object . A recent example involves the
identification made between the two designations 2013 RE43  and 2015 UG52.
The MPC encourages the user-community to suggest new identifications to the 
MPC, in order to help MPC staff maintain and improve the database of orbits.

     To facilitate the reporting and prompt processing of identifications, 
the MPC has developed the following web form:
https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpcops/submissions/identifications/. 


     The web form allows for the submission of (a) identifications between 
two or more designations, (b) the association of ITF tracklets with known 
designations, and (c) the mutual association of ITF tracklets to result in 
a new designation. Future developments will allow the reporting of 
additional categories.

     As of June 15, 2020, all new reports of identifications must be made 
using this web-form in order to be considered by the MPC, and for credit to
be assigned to the submitter in an MPC publication. 

     For further details related to identifications, including the required
format for their submission and processing, please refer to the following
webpage: 
https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpcops/documentation/identifications

M. P. C. Staff               (C) Copyright 2020 MPC           M.P.E.C. 2020-K201