The Minor Planet Center (MPC) uses the term "identification" to refer to the situation when two or more designated orbits are discovered to be the same underlying object and hence an identification is made between their designations. A recent example involves the identification made between the two designations 2013 RE43 and 2015 UG52.

Submitting Identifications

Identifications can be submitted using the file upload form or using the API, example usage here. Before submitting your identifications please read through the documentation on the required format. See below for various links.

• Submission format for identifications
• Submit identifications
• Further detailed information on e.g. criteria, what may or not be accepted through the pipeline can be found here.

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.

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

2021 Summary
2022 Summary

The Isolated Tracklet File (ITF)

The Isolated Tracklet File (ITF) containing Isolated Tracklets can be downloaded from here. Please ensure you have read this document.