MPEC SORTING PROGRAM FOR MONTHLY UPDATES Last updated: 27 March 2011

Sent:	Thursday, March 24, 2011 09:43:11
From:	P. Clay Sherrod (drclay@tcworks.net)
A new MPEC asteroid sorting program - MPEC Sort Application - is
currently posted on the Arkansas Sky Observatories website:

http://www.arksky.org
http://www.arksky.org/MPCSort/Home.html

This is a free program that has been constructed by the ASO webmaster,
Keith Yohn, who has graciously allowed this to be available to the
general population of asteroid watchers. It has been in use at ASO for
about 4 years and works rapidly and allows a quick printout for your
exact choice of parameters of observing NEOs that are updated monthly
via the MPEC.

Included in these MPEC monthly updates are the Distant Minor Planets,
Atens and Apollos, Unusual Minor Planets, and Amors.  This program will
allow you to concentrate on any or all of these groups of targets, while
selecting only those that fit within your observational parameters,
equipment limitations, and observing schedules.

No searching for lists, no constant downloading and no manual sorting
for your observing programs. This program is a turn-key operation that
searches for the necessary MPEC updated files, sorts them and then
arranges and hour-by-hour (RA order) observing program list set up
exactly for your needs and equipment.

He has also installed links to required ancillary programs that you may
or may not currently have installed on your computers to facilitate the
operation of this sorting program.

Keith operates a private observatory, WWIN Observatory, in Cabot,
Arkansas and is also instrumental in the computer operations at Arkansas
Sky Observatories.

Currently the MPEC Sort Application is able to download and sort to your
specifications the following circulars:

  AMORS

  UNUSUAL MINOR PLANETS

  PHAS

  ATENS and APOLLOS

  DISTANT MINOR PLANETS

and will always use the most recent updates of those objects as found on
the monthly MPEC updates.

Observers can select from the following parameters:

1) RA starting point to RA ending point for any given period (you choose
the span of RA that is best suited for your observing periods)

2) DEC limitations, both northern and southern hemispheres, allowing for
you to restrict objects below or near horizon points

3) magnitude limitations, based on your equipment and observing
programs; select only those down to a specific magnitude.

4) limits of minor planet category or categories.

This is a remarkably efficient and simple program to use and saves
educators and researches many hours of manually sorting target objects
for each month; you will find that you can maintain a very accurate
listing of potential targets just for your parameters that is refreshed
each month.  One click if you are on line and the program automatically
retrieves all the data and begins sorting for YOUR specific
requirements.

Clay
_____
Dr. P. Clay Sherrod
Arkansas Sky Observatories
MPC H45 - Petit Jean Mountain South
MPC H41 - Petit Jean Mountain
MPC H43 - Conway West
http://www.arksky.org/

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