Clay,

Thanks for the kind words.

Yes, the MPC orbits are not always close; Bill's FIND_ORB and ASTORB
are much closer.

MPCORB has a use: While finding these neglected minor planets I have
discovered two and possibly three objects that were not in MPCORB or
ASTORB; they are now.

Joe

--- In guide-user@yahoogroups.com, "P. Clay Sherrod" <drclay@...> wrote:
>
> In that case, the current stats (orbital parameters) that are posted
on MPC are not
> going to be even close anyway; I would suggest using manual entry
via the latest (??)
> elements on MPC Ephemeris generator, even though they are not even
close and entering
> those via the Add function on Guide8....
>
> Best of luck...excellent effort and congrats on the contributions
that you make.
>
> Clay
> -------------
> Dr. P. Clay Sherrod
> Arkansas Sky Observatories
> Harvard MPC/ H43 (Conway)
> Harvard MPC/ H41 (Petit Jean Mountain)
> Harvard MPC/ H45 (Petit Jean Mtn. South)
> http://www.arksky.org/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jrhobart" <jrhobart@...>
> To: <guide-user@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 9:56 AM
> Subject: [guide-user] Re: MPCORB File Location
>
>
> >
> > Clay,
> >
> > I have a different program than you do. I have been chasing asteroids
> > that have not been observed in years (often not since discovery), and
> > some are in danger of being lost. I found some of these as much as a
> > half degree from their MPC predicted positions; Bill's FIND_ORB has
> > been very helpful with my work.
> >
> > These minor planets are not on MPC's lists or at least any MPC list I
> > have found. This is not glamorous work, but somebody needs to help
> > tie up lose ends. In a way this is a continuation of a project the
> > late Ron Stone conducted at the Naval Observatory with brighter minor
> > planets.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Joe
> >
> >
> > --- In guide-user@yahoogroups.com, "P. Clay Sherrod" <drclay@> wrote:
> >>
> >> Do you have "Use MPCORB" checked under the EXTRAs tab on Guide8?
> >> If the asteroids do not come up, they are not currently considered
> > on any critical or unusual
> >> listing. You can possibly enter those asteroids' parameters from the
> > MPC Ephemeris generator
> >> individually and they will then show along with those defaulted
> > through the mpcorb.dat file.
> >>
> >> Clay
> >> ----------------------------------------
> >> Dr. P. Clay Sherrod
> >> Arkansas Sky Observatories
> >> http://www.arksky.org/
> >> Observatory Hill Drive, Petit Jean Mt.
> >> MPC/cbat Obs. H41 / Petit Jean Mountain
> >> MPC/cbat Obs. H45 / Petit Jean Mountain South
> >> MPC/cbat Obs. H43 / Conway
> >> MPC/cbat Obs. H44 / Cascade Mountain
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "jrhobart" <jrhobart@>
> >> To: <guide-user@yahoogroups.com>
> >> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:54 PM
> >> Subject: [guide-user] Re: MPCORB File Location
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> > Of the eight minor planets in my list that I tried, not one was in
> >> > NEAtod.dat file.
> >> >
> >> > So, how do I tell Guide to look in another directory for
MPCORB.DAT?
> >> >
> >> > Thanks,
> >> > Joe
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --- In guide-user@yahoogroups.com, "P. Clay Sherrod" <drclay@>
wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > > For the challenging and "observations needed" asteroids, or
at least
> >> > the majority of
> >> > > them, do not use the entire MPCORB file; simply copy the daily
> >> > "neatod.dat" file and
> >> > > RENAME it after copying to "mpcorb.dat".....we do this daily and
> >> > have nearly all NEOs
> >> > > and asteroids of concern in that list.
> >> > >
> >> > > Dr. Clay
> >> > > -------------
> >> > > Arkansas Sky Observatories
> >> > > Harvard MPC/ H43 (Conway)
> >> > > Harvard MPC/ H41 (Petit Jean Mountain)
> >> > > Harvard MPC/ H45 (Petit Jean Mtn. South)
> >> > > http://www.arksky.org/
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > > From: "jrhobart" <jrhobart@>
> >> > > To: <guide-user@yahoogroups.com>
> >> > > Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:37 PM
> >> > > Subject: [guide-user] MPCORB File Location
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Is there some way to tell Guide to look in another
directory for
> >> > > > MPCORB.DAT?
> >> > > >
> >> > > > It seems wasteful to have to copy the 70 MB MPCORB file to the
> >> > > > directory of every program that uses this file.
> >> > > >
> >> > > > Thanks,
> >> > > > Joe Hobart
> >> > > > Flagstaff, Arizona
> >> > > >