The identifications pipeline can process up to approximately 1,000 linkages per day. However, other internal MPC processes or procedures with higher priority may pause or slow down the ID pipeline.
Submitting Identifications
Identifications can be submitted using thefile upload form or using the API, example usagehere. Before submitting your identifications please read through the documentation on the required format. See below for various links.
Please note the submission form does not currently support:
- The deletion of identifications.
- Designations that need to be retired.
- Identifications where some tracklets need to be redesignated before the identification can be processed.
Failed submissions
If you'd like to receive an automated message when your submitted linkaged failed in the ID pipeline,please add the following text in the comment section: REPLY_EMAIL and don't forget to submit your email address as well in thesubmission header.
Potential reasons for failures:
- The User has submitted the observations of a single night that extends one apparition to two oppositions. This is not allowed.
- Short arc issue: minimum conditions not met (See thecriteria.)
- The User has requested to link two one apparitions TNOs. This is not allowed.
- The User has submitted an arc extension for a one apparition TNO. At present, this is not automated and it won't be handled by the pipeline.
- Near duplicates present - detection(s) of submitted ITF tracklet as part of a submitted linkage is very close (spacially - 2 arc seconds, temporaly - 2 seconds) to another ITF or published detection(s).
- The orbit fit failed.
- The following designation is not allowed <DESIGNATION> - e.g. designations starting with K15B and K14W cannot be currently created until theExtended Packed Provisional Designation Scheme is not implemented.
- NEW NEO Identified from ITF to ITF: MPEC Needed (MPEC for NEO is issued manually)
- Not enough nights in a multi-apparition ITFITF orbit (See thecriteria.)
- ITF to ITF object is too large - New ITFITF objects that are unusually large (measured by the absolute magnitude H) are left for manual processing: NEOs H<17, Mars-Crossers H<16.5, inner and central MB H<16, outer MB H<15.5, Hildas and Trojans H<14).
- Designation does not exist
Double Designations
A subset of identifications is made between objects designated within the same opposition. Historically, the MPC referred to these as "double designations". An example involves the double designation/identification made between 2017 SL83 and 2017 UH33.
As of June 1, 2020, the MPC will cease to use the "double designation"terminology and will simply refer to them as identifications.
Summary of Linkages
Every year, the MPC creates a summary report of all the identifications that have been submitted, accepted by our pipeline and then published.
2021 Summary
2022 Summary
2023 Summary
2024 Summary
The Isolated Tracklet File (ITF)
The Isolated Tracklet File (ITF) containing Isolated Tracklets can be downloadedfrom here. Please ensure you have read thisdocument.