JPL Small-Body Database: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Astronomy database about small Solar System bodies}}

The '''JPL Small-Body Database''' ('''SBDB''') is an [[astronomy]] [[database]] about [[small Solar System body|small Solar System bodies]]. It is maintained by [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] (JPL) and [[NASA]] and provides data for all known [[asteroid]]s and several [[comet]]s, including [[orbit]]al parameters and diagrams, physical diagrams, close approach details, radar astrometry, discovery circumstances, alternate designations and lists of publications related to the small body.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Small-Body Database Lookup|url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/|access-date=2021-10-01|website=ssd.jpl.nasa.gov}}</ref> The database is updated daily when new observations are available.<ref>

{{cite web |url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi |title=JPL Small-Body Database browser |publisher=[[NASA]]/[[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]] |access-date=2012-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922230327/http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi |archivedate=2021-09-22 |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2021 the JPL Small-Body Database started using planetary [[ephemeris]] ([[Jet Propulsion Laboratory Development Ephemeris#Ephemerides in the series|DE441]]) and small-body perturber SB441-N16. Most objects such as asteroids get a [[Osculating orbit|two-body solution]] (Sun+object) recomputed twice a year. Comets generally have their two-body orbits computed at a time near the perihelion passage (closest approach to the Sun) as to have the two-body orbit more reasonably accurate for both before and after perihelion. For most asteroids, the [[Epoch (astronomy)|epoch]] used to define an orbit is updated twice a year. Orbital uncertainties in the JPL Small-Body Database are listed at the [[68–95–99.7 rule|1-sigma]] level.

{{cite web

|url=http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi

|title=JPL Small-Body Database browser

|publisher=[[NASA]]/[[Jet Propulsion Laboratory|JPL]]

|access-date=2012-03-19

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922230327/http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi |archivedate=2021-09-22 |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2021 the JPL Small-Body Database started using planetary [[ephemeris]] ([[Jet Propulsion Laboratory Development Ephemeris#Ephemerides in the series|DE441]]) and small-body perturber SB441-N16. Most objects such as asteroids get a [[Osculating orbit|two-body solution]] (Sun+object) recomputed twice a year. Comets generally have their two-body orbits computed at a time near the perihelion passage (closest approach to the Sun) as to have the two-body orbit more reasonably accurate for both before and after perihelion. For most asteroids, the [[Epoch (astronomy)|epoch]] used to define an orbit is updated twice a year. Orbital uncertainties in the JPL Small-Body Database are listed at the [[68–95–99.7 rule|1-sigma]] level.

On 27 September 2021 the JPL Solar System Dynamics website underwent a significant upgrade.

{{val|233000}} orbits were computed in August 2021 and in the last 12 months to August 2021, more than 3.3 million orbits have beenwere computed.<ref name=jpl-sso/>

== Close-approachOrbit dataviewer ==

In the past, one could view a 3D visualization of the body's orbit using a [[Java (programming language)|Java]] applet. As of mid-2023, one could see something similar using JPL's Orbit Viewer tool, which was implemented using [[JavaScript]], [[Three.js]] and [[WebGL]].

As of August 2013 (planetary [[ephemeris]] [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory Development Ephemeris|DE431]]) close-approach data is available for the major planets and the 16 most massive asteroids. Close approach data is available by adding <code>&view=OPC</code> to the [[query string]] at the end of the body's [[URL]]. Close approach data use to be available by adding <code>;cad=1</code> or <code>&cad=1</code> to the query string. The [[Wayback Machine]] prefers the <code>&cad=1</code> option. The JPL Small-Body Database close approach table lists a [[Linearity|linearized]] uncertainty. The time of close approach uncertainty and min/max distance correspond to the [[3-sigma]] level.

A [[Java (programming language)|Java]] applet is available and provided as a 3DThe orbit visualizationviewer tool. The applet was implemented usinguses unreliable [[Two-body problem|2two-body methods]], and hence should not be used for accurately determining the [[Apsis#Time of perihelion|time of perihelion passage]] or planetary encounter circumstances. For accurate ephemerides use the [[JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System]] that handles the [[n-body problem]] using [[numerical integration]]. The Java applet is available by adding <coderef>[https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=54509621&view=VOPV JPL Note]</coderef> to the query string at the end of the body's URL.

== Orbit diagram ==

A [[Java (programming language)|Java]] applet is available and provided as a 3D orbit visualization tool. The applet was implemented using unreliable [[Two-body problem|2-body methods]], and hence should not be used for accurately determining the [[Apsis#Time of perihelion|time of perihelion passage]] or planetary encounter circumstances. For accurate ephemerides use the [[JPL Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System]] that handles the [[n-body problem]] using [[numerical integration]]. The Java applet is available by adding <code>&view=VOP</code> to the query string at the end of the body's URL.

==See also==