Pointing submissions

The Minor Planet Center (MPC) collects data on pointings, i.e. information describing the direction, time, duration, and geometry of each exposure.

A pointing corresponds to an individual image (not a multi-exposure field).

We welcome submissions from: - Large surveys - Targeted follow-up observations - Negative observations

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Purpose

Collecting pointing data enables: 1. Community coordination of NEO follow-up 2. Internal MPC data processing 3. Community precovery

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Types of pointings

We collect three types:

1. Exposed pointings
   At (or near) the time of exposure

2. Queued pointings
   Scheduled observations

3. Negative observations
   Targeted observations where the object was not found

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Submission format

Pointings must be submitted as a JSON file.

An API for querying the database will be made available separately.

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Documentation

For the full specification, examples, and submission methods, see:

• Pointing submissions documentation

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Minimal valid JSON

{
  "action": "exposed",
  "surveyExpName": "test001",
  "mode": "survey",
  "mpcCode": "111",
  "time": "2026-01-01T00:00:00.0",
  "duration": 30,
  "center": [10.0, -10.0],
  "width": 1.0,
  "limit": 20.0
}

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Test submission

You may use the form below to test your JSON.

It performs validation and inserts the data with an ignore=1 flag (test mode).

Do not use this form for real data.

Pointing data (JSON):
{ "action": "exposed", "surveyExpName": "test001", "mode": "survey", "mpcCode": "111", "time": "2026-01-01T00:00:00.0", "duration": 30, "center": [10.0, -10.0], "width": 1.0, "limit": 20.0 }

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Notes

• The browser form submits to the standard endpoint.
• Form-based test submissions are inserted with ignore=1.
• Direct JSON POST submissions are treated as normal submissions.