Re: [guide-user] Entering Asteroid Data

Bill J Gray Oct 20 10:55 AM

Hi Truman,

Assuming you did enter the magnitude parameters H and G correctly,
I'd first off ask if you perhaps selected "Add new comet" instead of
"Add new asteroid"? With the former, orbital elements would be
interpreted properly, but the magnitude parameters have entirely
different meanings.

The method Bob suggested, of putting the orbital elements he
provided in his post into a file, then using "Extras... Add
MPC Comets/Asteroids" to import it, is still better; you evade
typing and typos, and get the right magnitude parameters.
Alternatively, you can download the MPC's Minor Planet Electronic
Circular (MPEC), containing elements for Hermes, and use the same
function to load it:

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/mpec/K03/K03U04.html

Just save the file to disk and use "Add MPC Comets/Asteroids"
to load it. The extra information in such files doesn't bother
Guide, since it will simply dig through until it sees the "Orbital
elements" line, and suitable lines following it.

-- Bill