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Solar System Dynamics on-line Tools
The following is a list of on-line tools designed to provide
data in support of solar system body observations as well as
general scientific research.
The JPL HORIZONS On-Line Solar System Data and Ephemeris Computation Service
provides access to key solar system data and flexible production of
highly accurate ephemerides for solar system objects
(planets, planetary satellites,
comets, asteroids,
the Sun, L1, L2, select spacecraft, and system barycenters).
Access the HORIZONS web-interface using
this link.
The Mission Design Tool provides a framework for rapid preliminary mission design to all
known asteroids and comets. Users can access an interactive interface to conduct feasibility
analyses and find promising launch opportunities.
The system is kept up-to-date to include newly discovered objects and
updated orbit solutions. The interactive design interface is connected to an
API server that computes
transfer options in real time.
The interface also presents a list of precomputed optimal trajectories
under standard mission design constraints.
More details are available on the introduction page.
JPL's small-body database (SBDB) contains orbital elements and physical parameters
for all known asteroids
and most recent comets.
The
Small-Body Database Search Engine
can be used to generate custom tables
of orbital and/or physical data for all
asteroids and comets
(or a specified sub-set) in our database.
For example, a table of orbital elements for all
near-Earth asteroids
(NEAs) can be generated using this tool.
Or, you could find out how many asteroids
have a known mass or perhaps how many
asteroids have an orbital eccentricity greater than 0.8.
Output can be displayed in your browser or optionally downloaded in CSV-format
for use in, for example, a spread-sheet program.
The Small-Body Database Browser
can be used to view data for a specified asteroid or comet.
For example, if you want to see the orbit diagram for an object,
or it's current orbital elements, or the discovery circumstances,
or selected known physical parameters, you can use this tool.
Given an observation date, location, and region of sky
(and optionally other constraints),
find all asteroids
and/or comets matching those constraints within that region.
This tool is useful if you've obtained an observation containing an unknown object
or you're interested in finding an asteroid or comet in a archival observation.
Access the small-body identification tool using
this link.
Given an observation date, location, and constraints
(such as maximum magnitude and maximum zenith distance),
find asteroids and/or comets
that are optically "observable" on the specified night.
Access the small-body what's observable tool using
this link.
Given a date/time in one of several different forms,
display all other forms of that date/time.
For example, given a Gregorian calendar date and time,
display the Julian date, day of year, day of week, etc.
Access the date/time conversion tool using
this link.
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