The predicted positions are computed from the orbits of all unnumbered minor
planets, who were discovered in Asian countries and will come in the oppositions
in this month. The number of these planets are 5,173 at the time of February MPCs,
1999, so that the capacity of a file exceeds 60 Kbytes. The positions are
computed from the recent orbits on MPCs and are at the time of 0h TT ( = 9h JST on
the same day). No Japanese characters included.
The top two lines are composed as follows:
(1) (2) (3) (2) (3) (2) (3) (2) (3) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
For Center Date
Asteroid Date R.A.(2000)Decl. Date R.A.(2000)Decl. Date R.A.(2000)Decl. Date R.A.(2000)Decl. Date R.A.(2000)Decl. delta r V Motion Elog. Opp.Date Code
J90G00A 1 0112 09 19.5 +21 18 0122 09 10.1 +22 17 0201 08 58.6 +23 14 0211 08 46.6 +24 02 0221 08 35.8 +24 33 1.20 2.19 17.4 17/290 174 19990201 *372
Here, the first line for the examination. The second line are,
(1) ..... Planet designation.
Column 8 ..... If Asterisk "*" is put in column 8, planet is NEO (q is smaller
than 1.35 AU).
Column 9 ..... If "1" is put in column 9, positions are computed from a one
opposition orbit. Although this orbit is determined from a 21 day
arc or more (for the usual planets), but the position of these planets,
except objects observed (discovered) at the present opposition, is
quite uncertain and can be 0.8 deg. or more.
If "W" is put in column 9, orbit was determined from only a 20 day
arc or less, the position of these planets, except objects observed
(discovered) at the present opposition, is EXTREME uncertain. And
these are impossible to re-discover from the predictions.
For NEOs with "*1" in columns 8-9, the positions are particularly
uncertain, except for objects observed (discovered) at the present
opposition.
(2) ..... Date (Month and Day 0h UT, see Opposition date for Year)
(3) ..... Positions for 50 days with 10 day interval.
(4) ..... Delta = Distance between object and Earth.
r = Distance between object and Sun.
V = V Magnitude.
(5) ..... Daily motion in arc minute and direction of motion in the position
angle.
(6) ..... Elongation from the Sun.
(7) ..... Opposition date.
(6) ..... Code number of the observatory where object was discovered;
The first character means that the planet with "*" is discovered by
Japanese amateur, "+" is discovered by Japanese professional and
"#" is discovered by other Asian countries.