JPL Small-Body Database

The JPL Small-Body Database (SBDB) is an <a href="/facts/Astronomy/0ArJVM1p">astronomy</a> <a href="/facts/Database/VYcpkevb">database</a> about <a href="/facts/Small_Solar_System_body/Vrnr9n3M">small Solar System bodies</a>. It is maintained by <a href="/facts/Jet_Propulsion_Laboratory/zPXnxRBf">Jet Propulsion Laboratory</a> (JPL) and <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> and provides data for all known <a href="/facts/Asteroid/g7Ulr1VB">asteroids</a> and several <a href="/facts/Comet/w34utQCd">comets</a>, including <a href="/facts/Orbit/nD2TPySG">orbital</a> parameters and diagrams, physical diagrams, close approach details, radar astrometry, discovery circumstances, alternate designations and lists of publications related to the small body. The database is updated daily when new observations are available. In April 2021 the JPL Small-Body Database started using planetary <a href="/facts/Ephemeris/vjQCBG29">ephemeris</a> (<a href="/facts/Jet_Propulsion_Laboratory_Development_Ephemeris/SeCNLYkt">DE441</a>) and small-body perturber SB441-N16. Most objects such as asteroids get a <a href="/facts/Osculating_orbit/hA7omegY">two-body solution</a> (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 <a href="/facts/Epoch_(astronomy)/RDdj6SmA">epoch</a> used to define an orbit is updated twice a year. Orbital uncertainties in the JPL Small-Body Database are listed at the <a href="/facts/68%E2%80%9395%E2%80%9399.7_rule/IDaupJFh">1-sigma</a> level. 
On 27 September 2021 the JPL Solar System Dynamics website underwent a significant upgrade.
233000 orbits were computed in August 2021 and in the 12 months to August 2021, more than 3.3 million orbits were computed.

JPL Small-Body Database open-in-new

JPL Small-Body Database