Astroquery: Future Solar System modules

[mommermi]

As part of a NASA-funded project (sbpy), we will add a number of services to astroquery over the next three years. This list is just to provide a heads-up for everyone:

• [x] JPL Small-Body Database Browser (orbital and physical properties, https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi)
• [x] JPL Small-Body Database Search Engine (most likely, depends on JPL API development, https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb_query.cgi)
• [x] Minor Planet Center (observations database and ephemeris service, https://minorplanetcenter.net/)
• [x] IMCCE: INPOP, Miriade, Multisat, SkyBot (ephemeris tools and a tool to identify moving objects in a field of view at a given time, https://www.imcce.fr/fr/ephemerides/)
• [ ] Lowell ASTORB (ephemeris and physical properties, http://asteroid.lowell.edu/)
• [ ] Solar System Object Image Search function of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre (http://www.cadc-ccda.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/en/ssois/)
• [ ] other services we are considering are NEODyS (orbital elements and uncertainties for near-Earth objects, http://newton.dm.unipi.it/neodys/) and ASTDyS (orbital elements and uncertainties for other asteroids, http://hamilton.dm.unipi.it/astdys/)
• [x] JPL Molecular Spectroscopy Catalog (which includes the partition functions needed for sbpy spectroscopy analysis, https://spec.jpl.nasa.gov/)

If you are interested in additional services, please reply to this thread and I will add them to the list.

[bsipocz]

@mommermi - The MPC module has just been added in #1064

(I've also added checkboxes, so it's easier to see the progress)

[mommermi]

@bsipocz - cool, less work for us :)

The current MPC module is useful, but covers only a small part of the actual MPC database. I am not sure if they already provide an API for their ephemeris service, but there is definitely one for their observation database. I can implement that into the current MPC module.

[bsipocz]

thank you, that would be great!

[gianninapr]

As part of the sbpy project, this summer we will also start working on the addition of:

• [ ] JPL Molecular Spectroscopy Catalog (which includes the partition functions needed for sbpy spectroscopy analysis, https://spec.jpl.nasa.gov/)

[bsipocz]

thanks @gianninapr! I've added it to the list to the top, too.

[mkelley]

@mommermi @migueldvb I've drafted up a docstring for getting ephemerides with the MPC class. How should I share that for review? Link to my branch here or make a pull request?

[migueldvb]

Wonderful! That will be very helpful. You can open a new PR with the WIP prefix (work in progress) in the title.

[mkelley]

By the way, JPL Small-Body Database Search Engine was added in #1214 .