MPC Operations Status
The Minor Planet Center operates in two distinct modes of operation, which are described below.Processing Mode
Processing is the normal mode of operation. Automated processes handle the bulk of the incoming observation batches.MPC Preparation Mode
When the checking of material that is to appear in the next batch of Minor Planet Circulars begins, the MPC switches into preparation mode. The primary difference between preparation and processing modes is that new observatory codes are not attended to in preparation mode. Most automated procedures handle observations as in processing mode.
MPC Status Page
A page describing any problem with the MPC (either in internal processing of observations or with the webpages or web scripts) is available.ECS Files
The files available in the ECS are those associated with the 2013 APR. 25 and 2013 MAR. 27 batches of MPCs.
The last batch of mid-month MPS batches included in the file available in the ECS are those associated with the 2013 MAY 12 batch.
Dates of Minor Planet Circular Publication
Below are listed the planned dates of Minor Planet Circular publication for the next year. Note that these are the UTC dates of Full Moon and availability of the files associated with these batches may occur several days before or after the stated date.- 2013 01 27
- 2013 02 25
- 2013 03 27
- 2013 04 25
- 2013 05 25
- 2013 06 23
- 2013 07 22
- 2013 08 21
- 2013 09 19
- 2013 10 18
- 2013 11 17
- 2013 12 17
Name Proposals
The CSBN has approved 68 names for publication in the 2013 Feb. 25 batch of Minor Planet Circulars.Name proposals submitted before 2013 January 30 20:00 (UTC) are being prepared for consideration by the CSBN for publication in the 2013 Apr. 25 batch of Minor Planet Circulars. Note that this is a delay from the previously-announced Mar. 27 batch.
Name proposals submitted after 2013 January 30 20:00 (UTC) will be considered by the CSBN for publication in the 2013 May 25 batch of Minor Planet Circulars.
