List of unnumbered minor planets

Last updated
Circle frame.svgUnnumbered minor planets (single-opposition): 129,103 bodies (9.9%)Unnumbered minor planets (multiple-opposition): 547,652 bodies (42.0%)Numbered minor planets: 623,827 bodies (47.8%)Comets: 4,586 bodies (0.4%)
Breakdown of 1,304,970 small bodies of the Solar System: [1] [lower-alpha 1]
  129,103 single-opposition MPs
  547,652 multiple-opposition MPs
  623,827 numbered MPs
  4,586 comets

The following is a list of unnumbered minor planets in chronological order of their principal provisional designation. Contrary to their numbered counterparts, unnumbered minor planets have a poorly determined orbit due to insufficient observational data. This also includes lost minor planets which have not been observed for many years, or even decades. As of August 2023, the Minor Planet Center (MPC) accounts for 676,755 unnumbered minor planets which represent

Contents

The tables below contain 95 objects with a principal designation assigned between 1927 and 1993. Additional partial lists cover the period from 1994 to 2004. [lower-alpha 1] Unnumbered minor planets detected after 2004 are not listed due to their large number (see statistics). The orbital uncertainty parameter (U) ranges from low ("0") to very high ("9"). For some single-opposition objects no numeric uncertainty is given ("–" and "E"), latter indicating an estimated, rather than determined orbital eccentricity. Furthermore, a color code is used to indicate a body's basic dynamical classification, with additional information given in columns "class" and "description and notes" (especially for near-Earth objects, Jupiter trojans and distant objects). [1] [3] [4] If available, mean diameters are taken from the latest NEOWISE publication, [5] or, if not available, estimated based on an object's absolute magnitude and displayed in italics. [6]

In the Minor Planet Circular from July 2018, the MPC announced that changes in their data processing pipeline will enable numberings to occur more frequently. It is stated that the new method will clear the backlog of unnumbered minor planets with an already well-established orbit without changing the criteria for numbering. Previously, this was not possible because of the difficulty of determining who was the discoverer. [7] Despite this announcement, however, the total of unnumbered minor planets has since significantly increased rather than decreased.

Statistics

10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Unnumbered minor planets (uMPs) by year of principal designation. As of 29 January 2022 the MPC's orbit database contains 558,491 uMPs. Objects observed on a single opposition (total of 111,001) are displayed with a lighter color than multi-opposition objects (total of 447,490). [1] [lower-alpha 1]
  Until 2004: 31,553 uMPs (6%) are listed on this and other partial pages
  Since 2005: 526,935 uMPs (94%) are not listed

1900–1979

U Designation Class Physical Observations Description and notesRef
H D Opp. Arc LastUsed
1927 LA MBA-O11.035 kmsingle34 days05 Jul 19273Disc.: Heidelberg Obs.
Oldest lost asteroid
MPC  · JPL
E 1935 UZ MCA single4 days23 Oct 19353Disc.: Uccle Obs. MPC  · JPL
1937 CK MBA-Isingle32 days13 Mar 19373Disc.: Uccle Obs. MPC  · JPL
1939 RR MBA-O12.022 kmsingle27 days12 Oct 19393Disc.: Uccle Obs. MPC  · JPL
1942 RH MBA-I13.85.2 kmsingle10 days15 Sep 19423Disc.: Turku Obs. MPC  · JPL
0 4847 P-L MBA-I18.04730 mmultiple1960-202225 Jan 202237Disc.: Palomar–Leiden MPC  · JPL
0 6331 P-L MBA-I18.5590 mmultiple1960–202101 Dec 202186Disc.: Palomar–Leiden MPC  · JPL
1 6344 P-L APO 20.4300 mmultiple1960–202104 Aug 2021129Disc.: Palomar–Leiden
Potentially hazardous object
MPC  · JPL
1 1960 SB1 MCA 17.911.5 kmmultiple1960-202222 Mar 202256Disc.: Palomar Obs.
Alt.: 2017 CT1
MPC  · JPL
0 1979 MW5 MBA-O16.472.8 kmmultiple1979-202311 Nov 2023118Disc.: Siding Spring
Alt.: 2011 HG10
MPC  · JPL
9 1979 XB APO 18.6680 msingle4 days15 Dec 197916Disc.: Siding Spring
Potentially hazardous object
MPC  · JPL
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1980–1989

U Designation Class Physical Observations Description and notesRef
H D Opp. Arc LastUsed
0 1981 EN35 MBA-I17.46960 mmultiple1981–202319 Nov 2023209Disc.: Siding Spring
Alt.: 2014 FN21
MPC  · JPL
0 1982 YA AMO 18.011 kmmultiple1982–201703 Dec 201771Disc.: Haute-Provence
NEO larger than 1 kilometer
Alt.: 2003 WE42
MPC  · JPL
0 1983 QC MCA 18.83600 mmultiple1983–201811 Mar 201842Disc.: Palomar Obs. MPC  · JPL
0 1984 QL1 MCA 15.813.9 kmmultiple1984–202417 Mar 2024176Disc.: Palomar Obs.
MBA-O at JPL
Alt.: 2002 XP102, 2013 JS30
MPC  · JPL
0 1986 JE HUN 18.65550 mmultiple1986–202219 Feb 2022107Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2005 UU548
MPC  · JPL
0 1986 NA AMO 19.85380 mmultiple1986–202131 Oct 202188Disc.: Palomar Obs.
Alt.: 2013 UU3
MPC  · JPL
0 1988 NE AMO19.25500 mmultiple1988–202217 Sep 202295Disc.: Palomar Obs. MPC  · JPL
0 1988 PF1 MCA 16.72.5 kmmultiple1988–202118 Jan 2021331Disc.: Palomar Obs.
Alt.: 2009 WD77
MPC  · JPL
1988 RH9 MBA-M11.125 kmsingle11 days12 Sep 198815Disc.: La Silla Obs. MPC  · JPL
0 1989 AZ APO 19.4410 mmultiple1989–202426 Aug 2024310Disc.: Palomar Obs. MPC  · JPL
E 1989 FR MBA-O13.511 kmsingle2 days28 Mar 19896Disc.: Kleť Obs. MPC  · JPL
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1990–1992

U Designation Class Physical Observations Description and notesRef
H D Opp. Arc LastUsed
2 1990 HY6 MBA-O17.751.6 kmmultiple1990–202219 Nov 202242Disc.: Siding Spring
Alt.: 2012 XV90
MPC  · JPL
0 1990 SM24 = (720001)MBA-O16.363.0 kmmultiple1990–202403 May 2024301Disc.: La Silla Obs.
Alt.: 2008 GU14
MPC  · JPL
8 1990 UN APO 23.571 msingle15 days06 Nov 199022Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
3 1991 BA APO28.67 msingle0 day18 Jan 19917Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1991 GK MCA 19.43390 mmultiple1991–202027 May 2020128Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2020 BE6
MPC  · JPL
0 1991 GO APO 20.1340 mmultiple1991–202310 Jun 202394Disc.: Kitami Obs.
Potentially hazardous object
Alt.: 1999 HC
MPC  · JPL
7 1991 JR AMO 23.471 msingle11 days19 May 199120Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1991 PN MBA-O16.912.3 kmmultiple1991–202308 Sep 202355Disc.: Cerro Tololo Obs. MPC  · JPL
0 1991 PW22 MBA-M17.451.4 kmmultiple1991–202315 Jun 202276Disc.: La Silla Obs.
Alt.: 2010 CU110
MPC  · JPL
2 1991 RN28 MBA-I19.2430 mmultiple1991–201815 Oct 201835Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
7 1991 TT APO 26.022 msingle3 days09 Oct 19918Disc.: Spacewatch
AMO at MPC
MPC  · JPL
6 1991 TU APO28.47 msingle0 day07 Oct 19914Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1991 TY10 MBA-M17.11.6 kmmultiple1991–202107 Apr 2021128Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2011 PM15
MPC  · JPL
0 1991 TM16 MCA 17.361.4 kmmultiple1991–202107 Feb 202183Disc.: Palomar–DSS
Alt.: 2017 AB3
MPC  · JPL
1991 VA APO 26.518 msingle8 days09 Nov 199113Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
E 1991 VD HUN 19.5370 msingle2 days06 Nov 19919Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1991 VG APO 28.38 mmultiple1991–201701 Jun 201766Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
8 1991 XA APO 23.765 msingle12 days15 Dec 19917Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
1 1991 XB AMO 18.8620 mmultiple1991–201124 Jul 201138Disc.: Palomar Obs. MPC  · JPL
7 1992 DU APO 25.331 msingle3 days29 Feb 199211Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
5 1992 JD APO 25.036 msingle6 days09 May 199223Disc.: Spacewatch
AMO at MPC
MPC  · JPL
0 1992 SW MCA 19.93300 mmultiple1992–202409 Aug 202455Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
1992 SX MCA20.0300 msingle7 days04 Oct 199214Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1992 SZ AMO 19.97350 mmultiple1992–202402 Jun 202470Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1992 SN4 MBA-M18.55820 mmultiple1992–202227 Jan 202265Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1992 SC8 MBA-M18.38890 mmultiple1992–202130 Nov 202182Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2017 WV33
MPC  · JPL
1 1992 SW11 MBA-I17.281.0 kmmultiple1992–202320 Aug 202324Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1992 SB12 MBA-I19.7600 mmultiple1992–202411 Sep 202445Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2017 SW186
MPC  · JPL
E 1992 SZ17 MBA-M13.87.3 kmsingle4 days03 Oct 19926Disc.: Palomar Obs. MPC  · JPL
E 1992 TY1 MBA-O12.815 kmsingle3 days05 Oct 19925Disc.: Kitt Peak Obs. MPC  · JPL
1992 TZ1 MBA-I15.52.4 kmsingle4 days05 Oct 19925Disc.: Kitt Peak Obs. MPC  · JPL
1 1992 XA MBA-O17.51.8 kmmultiple1992–201813 Dec 2018161Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2005 UG242
MPC  · JPL
4 1992 YD3 APO 26.419 msingle0 day27 Dec 199212Disc.: Spacewatch
AMO at MPC
MPC  · JPL
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1993

U Designation Class Physical Observations Description and notesRef
H D Opp. Arc LastUsed
7 1993 BD3 AMO 26.220 msingle5 days31 Jan 199314Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
7 1993 BU3 AMO21.17210 msingle33 days03 Mar 199318Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
1 1993 BC10 MBA-M18.58800 mmultiple1993–202412 Aug 202458Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
6 1993 DA ATE 26.419 msingle5 days22 Feb 199318Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
7 1993 FA1 APO 25.923 msingle3 days31 Mar 199317Disc.: Spacewatch
AMO at MPC
MPC  · JPL
0 1993 FB85 MBA-M17.61.3 kmmultiple1993–202229 Oct 202264Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2002 GO188
MPC  · JPL
0 1993 FE85 = (720002)MBA-M17.691.2 kmmultiple1993–202229 Nov 2022101Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 HC APO 20.77250 mmultiple1993–202107 May 202158Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
3 1993 HP1 APO27.114 msingle0 day27 Apr 199327Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
1993 KA APO 26.022 msingle9 days26 May 199321Disc.: Spacewatch
AMO at MPC
MPC  · JPL
9 1993 KA2 APO29.06 msingle1 day22 May 199314Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 ME1 MCA 16.891.8 kmmultiple1993–202326 Jul 2023244Disc.: Palomar Obs. MPC  · JPL
1993 OT MCA19.0470 msingle20 days13 Aug 19939Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 OM1 MBA-M17.541.3 kmmultiple1993–202324 Apr 202359Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2015 MT193
MPC  · JPL
0 1993 OW5 MBA-M17.331.4 kmmultiple1993–202228 Oct 2022252Disc.: La Silla Obs. MPC  · JPL
0 1993 OP9 MBA-I17.82810 mmultiple1993–202224 Dec 2022124Disc.: La Silla Obs.
Alt.: 2004 TH237
MPC  · JPL
1 1993 OY13 MBA-I18.84510 mmultiple1993–202219 Nov 202235Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 PA1 MBA-I18.73530 mmultiple1993–202313 Jan 202360Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2009 QA32
MPC  · JPL
0 1993 PK1 MBA-I18.87510 mmultiple1993–202322 Oct 202369Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
3 1993 RP TNO 9.3759 kmmultiple1993-201602 Nov 201637Disc.: Mauna Kea Obs.
LoUTNOs, res  · 4:5
Alt.: 2015 VR202
MPC  · JPL
0 1993 SZ16 = (720003)MBA-O16.442.9 kmmultiple1993–202323 Jan 2023171Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
1 1993 TZ APO 26.022 mmultiple1993–201614 Oct 201634Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
1993 TR2 MCA 20.4350 msingle12 days24 Oct 199315Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 TK4 MBA-M18.8740 mmultiple1993–202303 Sep 202346Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2019 SY43
MPC  · JPL
0 1993 TQ4 MBA-I18.06730 mmultiple1993–202316 Apr 202345Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 TP6 MBA-I19.2430 mmultiple1993–202227 Nov 202279Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 TL8 = (720004)MBA-M17.371.4 kmmultiple1993–202107 Nov 202186Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2012 UH179
MPC  · JPL
0 1993 TC11 MBA-M19.45540 mmultiple1993–202229 Oct 202278Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 TC45 MBA-M17.951.1 kmmultiple1993–202313 Jan 2023200Disc.: La Silla Obs.
Alt.: 2007 BY108
MPC  · JPL
6 1993 UA APO 25.430 msingle3 days24 Oct 199315Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 UD AMO 20.38300 mmultiple1993–202215 Dec 202268Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 UY7 MCA18.75530 mmultiple1993-202223 Oct 202252Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2015 XV465
MPC  · JPL
1 1993 VC MCA 20.5330 mmultiple1993–200711 Nov 200734Disc.: Spacewatch MPC  · JPL
0 1993 VE6 MBA-I19.16440 mmultiple1993–202207 Apr 202249Disc.: Spacewatch
Alt.: 2003 SE413
MPC  · JPL
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1994–2004

2001
2002
2003
2004

2005–present

The year of principal provisional designation for most unnumbered minor planets is younger than 2004 (see § Statistics ). They are not listed in any of the partial lists due to their large number and frequent changes. New partial lists may be created in the future, as additional observations ultimately lead to new numberings and to fewer unnumbered bodies.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 The data for this and other partial lists is sourced from the Minor Planet Center's orbit-database file (MPCORB.DAT). The number of entries typically differs from the summary figures published on the JPL and MPC web pages, as they may lag behind days, weeks, or even months. This includes MPC's "Latest Published Data" and "Archive Statistics – Orbits And Names". [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Data Available from the Minor Planet Center – MPCORB.DAT". Minor Planet Center. 29 January 2022. (doc)
  2. "How Many Solar System Bodies". Jet Propulsion Laboratory – Small-Body Database. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  3. "List Of Jupiter Trojans". Minor Planet Center. 26 January 2021.
  4. Johnston, Wm. Robert (2 January 2022). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  5. "NEOWISE Diameters and Albedos – V2.0". PDS Small Bodies Node. 2019.
  6. "Asteroid Size Estimator". CNEOS NASA/JPL. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  7. "Minor Planet Circular (MPC 110641-111804) – Editorial Notice" (PDF). Minor Planet Center. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  8. "Latest Published Data". Minor Planet Center. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. "MPC Archive Statistics – Orbits And Names". Minor Planet Center. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2023.