NASA project:
Horizons On-Line System News
Nov 10:
-- Jovian satellites 2010J1 and 2010J2 have been updated to new trajectory
solution JUP286 from R. Jacobson (JPL).
Nov 09:
-- Phobos-Soil_1 and Phobos-Soil_2 TLE-based trajectories have been added,
replacing "Phobos-Soil". These two objects were found to be on
trajectories similar to the Earth-orbiting parking trajectory of the
original spacecraft. It is thought the engine firing did not occur.
Efforts are underway to recover the spacecraft and reattempt the
interplanetary injection phase if possible. However, battery power
may be depleted in the next few days (~Nov 11-15).
To obtain Earth shadow entrance/exit (eclipse) information for the
objects from Horizons (as with Hubble & ISS), select an object as
the target, then the Moon as coordinate center ("@301"). Then
request "observer table" quantity #12, "satellite angular separation
and visibility".
A marker code of "/u" will be displayed when the object is in umbral
eclipse. You would probably want to use a fine time-step of 1 minute
or less when generating such information.
Nov 04:
-- Daytime object 2005 YU55 was successfully acquired by Goldstone radar.
The orbit solution has been updated to #72, based on the delay-Doppler
measurements, and can be retrieved here. Trajectory uncertainties are
reduced ~75% with these initial measurements.
A 2nd orbit radar-update (prior to optical visibility) is expected to be
available around Nov 7 00:00 UTC, reducing uncertainties further.
Nov 03:
-- We plan to have an orbit solution update for 2005 YU55 based on
Goldstone radar astrometry by about Nov 4, 20:35 UTC. This daylight
object won't be visible until after it's Nov 8 0.85 lunar-distance
approach.
-- Spektr-R was updated from an official trajectory (not TLEs) provided
by Russia's IKI.
Horizons On-Line System News
Nov 10:
-- Jovian satellites 2010J1 and 2010J2 have been updated to new trajectory
solution JUP286 from R. Jacobson (JPL).
Nov 09:
-- Phobos-Soil_1 and Phobos-Soil_2 TLE-based trajectories have been added,
replacing "Phobos-Soil". These two objects were found to be on
trajectories similar to the Earth-orbiting parking trajectory of the
original spacecraft. It is thought the engine firing did not occur.
Efforts are underway to recover the spacecraft and reattempt the
interplanetary injection phase if possible. However, battery power
may be depleted in the next few days (~Nov 11-15).
To obtain Earth shadow entrance/exit (eclipse) information for the
objects from Horizons (as with Hubble & ISS), select an object as
the target, then the Moon as coordinate center ("@301"). Then
request "observer table" quantity #12, "satellite angular separation
and visibility".
A marker code of "/u" will be displayed when the object is in umbral
eclipse. You would probably want to use a fine time-step of 1 minute
or less when generating such information.
Nov 04:
-- Daytime object 2005 YU55 was successfully acquired by Goldstone radar.
The orbit solution has been updated to #72, based on the delay-Doppler
measurements, and can be retrieved here. Trajectory uncertainties are
reduced ~75% with these initial measurements.
A 2nd orbit radar-update (prior to optical visibility) is expected to be
available around Nov 7 00:00 UTC, reducing uncertainties further.
Nov 03:
-- We plan to have an orbit solution update for 2005 YU55 based on
Goldstone radar astrometry by about Nov 4, 20:35 UTC. This daylight
object won't be visible until after it's Nov 8 0.85 lunar-distance
approach.
-- Spektr-R was updated from an official trajectory (not TLEs) provided
by Russia's IKI.
Oct 12, 2011:
-- The Phobos-Soil trajectory was extended to Mars encounter.
Oct 10, 2011:
-- The Phobos-Soil spacecraft's planning trajectory for Nov 8 launch from
Baikonur (Russia) is now available. The Russian Space Research
Institute has expressed interest in astrometry and imaging of Earth
departure, especially engine burns to occur over South America.
Oct 04, 2011:
-- Spektr-R space telescope trajectory was added
-- Hubble Space Telescope trajectory was updated
-- GRAIL's second stage trajectory was updated
Sep 14, 2011:
-- GRAIL A & B trajectories been updated with post-launch data-fits.
Sep 10, 2011:
-- GRAIL launched at the second window of the day; the relevant trajectory
prediction files are now in Horizons.
Sep 08, 2011:
-- Pre-launch trajectories for Moon-bound GRAIL-A, GRAIL-B and the second
stage (GRAIL-SS) are now up on Horizons for the Saturday Sep 10 launch
window #1.
If launch is delayed, the on-line trajectories will be updated as soon
as possible.
Sep 02, 2011:
-- Saturnian satellite 2010J1 and 2010J2 trajectories have been updated
to a new solution fit to data through Aug 2011 from M. Brozovic (JPL).
-- Cassini reference trajectory has been updated.
-- ARTEMIS trajectories are back and current as far as they go.
A prediction interval will be added in a week or so.
-- Hope to have GRAIL prior to launch, but it is still pending.
Aug 15, 2011:
-- Pluto system ephemerides (planet center and 4 satellites) have been
updated to solution PLU021 (M. Brozovic, JPL)
Aug 09, 2011
-- Telnet screen sizing on the new server has been fixed. Horizons now also
dynamically recognizes window size changes.
For those accessing by script, the TERM= "no-resize-vt100" environment
variable isn't used anymore. A subset of RFC 854 and 1073 standards
has been implemented. This means an initial control-byte negotiation
occurs. This should be invisible to your script, if you are letting
telnet handle the connection.
Aug 01, 2011
-- Welcome to the new server. The SunFire V250, in service since 2004,
fades to black.
One still-unresolved issue affects telnet users, preventing automatic
initial screen sizing.
Until fixed, you may have to manually tell the system your screen
dimensions (if the 24 x 79 default isn't OK) by typing in the command:
tty {rows} {columns}
... at the main "Horizons>" prompt. For example, "tty 33 101" tells
the system your window has 33 rows and 101 columns.
Jul 27, 2011
-- Hardware upgrade means HORIZONS will be unavailable for a short time
early next week. When we come back, we should be >10x faster.
Nominal planning is for downtime Monday Aug 1 within the span
16:00-20:00 UTC (~ 9 am to 1 pm west coast Pasadena time in the US).
Probably a sub-interval of that span, if no surprises.
Addresses affected are "ssd.jpl.nasa.gov", "neo.jpl.nasa.gov", and
"iau-comm4.jpl.nasa.gov". All functions they provide will be temporarily
unavailable.
Jul 21, 2011
-- Newly discovered Pluto satellite, provisionally designated
S/2011 (134340) 1 and reported in CBAT 2769 is now available based
on orbit solution by M. Brozovic (JPL). Access on Horizons using
ID code "904".
Jul 18, 2011
-- The pre-launch Juno spacecraft trajectory has been updated for the
August 5 opening of the launch window.
-- A post-capture trajectory for the Dawn spacecraft at Vesta is now
available.
Jun 17, 2011
-- Version 3.40:
Output-stepping based on angular motion (instead of time) can now
handle cases with user-specified elevation angle limits (rise/set).
May 28, 2011
-- Jupiter satellite solution JUP282 (R. Jacobson, JPL) is now used for
bodies 506-513,517-550, and 55060-55073.
Satellites 2010 J1 and 2010 J2, two recently discovered Jovian
irregulars, are now available with the temporary numbering of
55072= 2010J1 and 55073= 2010J2.
May 25, 2011
-- System was down for ~5 minute fan replacement
Mar 18, 2011:
-- Saturnian satellite trajectories for 610-611, 615-618, 633-635, 649, and
653 were updated to use the new SAT342 solution from R. Jacobson (JPL),
reflecting Cassini spacecraft tracking data through November 2009.
-- The Horizons telnet interface was altered to support name searches for
small-bodies having an apostrophe in the name. E-mail requests can
enclose the look-up command in double-quotes:
COMMAND= "O'Connell;"
Feb 15, 2011:
-- WISE STATUS: No further updates to the Earth-orbiting WISE trajectory
will be made on Horizons. The last communication pass will occur from
11:35 a.m. to noon (PST) on 17 Feb 2011. During this pass, the s/c
transmitter will be turned off, ending mission operations and
navigation support. TLEs may be obtained from USSTRATCOM or other
public sites to derive future spacecraft location data.
-- Constellation boundaries have been updated to use two more digits of
precision for sub 0.1-arcsecond specification.
Feb 10, 2011:
-- The MESSENGER spacecraft trajectory was updated for the March 18
Mercury orbit insertion.
Jan 31, 2011:
-- Both the NExT spacecraft (formerly Stardust Bus) and 9P/Tempel 1 comet
trajectories have been updated for the 200 km Tempel 1 comet flyby on
2011-Feb-15 04:39:16 UTC.
To obtain an ephemeris relative to the comet Tempel 1 navigation
solution (s11025p_s89g), set center as "@1000093". Conversely, to
obtain an ephemeris of the comet relative to NExT s/c, set target
"1000093" and set center "@next".
The above will access precomputed trajectories as released by the NExT
navigation team. If you aren't concerned with encounter details, you
can request 9P/Tempel 1 from the comet database as usual for a
numerically integrated version and predicts over longer time-spans.
The current best global solution is K053/25, with an epoch of 2003.
This, or follow-ons to come, should be used for non-spacecraft purposes.
There is a solution #91 (epoch 2010) adequate for the 2011 NExT
encounter, but less good than K053/25 for times away from that epoch.
Also, FYI, earlier solution K051/22 has an epoch of 2006, and was a
fit keyed to the 2005 Deep Impact ecnounter but is not as good for
times away from that event as K053/25 or #91.
Dec 17, 2010:
-- The Planet-C (Akatsuki) trajectory was updated to reflect the failure
to achieve Venus orbit insertion Dec 7. No new trajectory updates
are expected here, though they may resume in future years if there is
further spacecraft activity.
Dec 13, 2010:
-- The Swift Earth-orbiting gamma-ray burst observatory has been added.
Future trajectory updates will be at user request.
Dec 06, 2010:
-- Most NEO orbits in Horizons were recomputed based on debiased optical
astrometry as described Icarus 210 (2010) 158-181, "Treatment of star
catalog biases in asteroid astrometric observations", Chesley SR,
Baer J, Monet DB.
The refinement aims to compensate astrometric measurements for small
systematic errors (generally 10's of mas level) in background star
catalog positions. This usually amounts to position changes for the
new solutions well within the noise-level of prior orbit solution
uncertainties.
Oct 22, 2010:
-- Uranian satellites 716-724 and planet center (799) have been updated to
the latest satellite solution URA095 from M. Brozovic (JPL).
Neptunian satellites 809-813 have also been updated to new solution
NEP085 from M. Brozovic (JPL).
Oct 16, 2010:
-- Updated to latest Saturnian satellite solution SAT314 from R. Jacobson
(JPL). Objects affected are: 619-631, 636-652, 2004S7, 2004S12,
2004S13, 2004S17, 2006S1, 2006S3, 2007S2, 2007S3.
Sep 09, 2010:
-- Satellite solution JUP230 was extended to span 1600 to 2500 for objects
Io (501), Europa (502), Ganymede (503), Callisto (504), Amalthea (505)
and Jupiter planet center (599)
Aug 19, 2010:
-- If you don't get a response from the e-mail batch system, it is likely
your e-mail program isn't set to send "plain-text" ASCII (7-bit).
A helpful guide to suitably configuring various mailers is here:
http://stagecraft.theprices.net/nomime.html
Modern e-mail sw increasingly assumes it is communicating with other
systems like itself, so automatically encodes outgoing e-mail with font
codes, formatting symbols, and MIME attachments. An elaborate front-end
is needed to interpret all this, which Horizons does not yet have. For
example, it may seem that your command file clearly says
EMAIL_ADDR= 'you@your.computer.com'
... but your e-mail software, if not set appropriately, reworks it such
that it arrives here looking like
EMAIL_ADDR =3D =E2=80=98you@your.computer.com=E2=80=99=20
... which Horizons can't interpret, hence can't send an error message
back to, hence no response. The issue is being looked at, but for now
the simplest fix is if users handle it on their end by setting their
e-mail software to send ASCII 7-bit plain-text (no MIME).
Aug 02, 2010:
-- DAWN spacecraft trajectory has been updated. Chandra, Herschel, Planck,
and WISE are updated regularly (weekly or monthly), the others as
requested or necessary.
Jul 12, 2010:
-- Kepler spacecraft trajectory updated, including predicts to 2015.
Uranian satellites Perdita, Mab, and Cupid were extended to 2050
(same URA074 solution).
Jun 30, 2010:
-- USAGE NOTE: to produce a close-approach table using the e-mail "batch"
interface, set MAKE_EPHEM= 'YES' and TABLE_TYPE= 'APPROACH'.
ftp://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/ssd/horizons_batch_example.long
... has been updated to indicate this.
Jun 28, 2010:
-- The Rosetta spacecraft trajectory was updated for the flyby of asteroid
21 Lutetia on Saturday July 10 @ 15:44:45 UTC (event time), at a
distance from Lutetia center of ~3230 km with a speed of 15 km/s.
Jun 24, 2010:
-- The final EPOXI trajectory release from JPL navigation prior to Earth
flyby is now in Horizons. The closest approach will be 2010-Jun-27
22:03:48 UTC, 36859 km over the mid South Atlantic Ocean, closer to
Antarctica than South America or Africa.
Jun 12, 2010:
-- The final Hayabusa trajectory prediction is now available for the Jun 13
return to Earth (Australia). Lighting is not favorable, but observers
in the Maldives should have a good view just after sunset (and of the
spacecraft too).
May 28, 2010:
-- Spacecraft trajectories have been added for Planet-C (Venus Climate
Orbiter, VCO), and the ARTEMIS-P1 and ARTEMIS-P2 spacecraft headed
to Earth-Moon L1/L2.
Mar 18, 2010:
-- The Mercury rotation model was update to use the published version of
Margot, J.L., (2009). "A new orientation model for Mercury,"
Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, v.105, no.4, pp. 329-336.
Feb 23, 2010:
-- A trajectory for Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft is now
available. Spacecraft ID is -85.
Feb 03, 2010:
-- The interplanetary planning trajectory for spacecraft Hayabusa's return
to Earth (June 2010) is now available. Entry/descent/landing trajectory
is not available at this time.
Jan 20, 2010:
-- Pluto system (901-903,999) has been extended to cover 1900-2051
with the same PLU017 solution.
Jovian satellites and planet center (501-505,514,599) have been
extended to cover 1900-2100 with the same JUP230 solution.
Jan 15, 2010:
-- Mars system (401,402,499) ephemerides have been updated to new solution
MAR085 (R. Jacobson, JPL) as described in Astronomical Journal (AJ),
139 (2010) 668-679.
Jan 13, 2010:
-- The Pluto ephemeris is currently PLU017 (indicated on output) -- since
the 2007-Jun-20 announcement for Nix and Hydra satellite updates.
Dec 17, 2009:
-- Jupiter planet (599) and satellites 528-538 were updated to orbit
solution JUP269; satellites 539-549 were updated to JUP268, and
provisional objects 55060-55071 updated to JUP270. "Herse" (550),
formerly known only as S/2003 J14, was newly numbered and named under
JUP270. All solutions are from R. Jacobson (JPL) who comments
"Merry Christmas" [ed.: indeed]; some provisional (5-digit) number
assignments were switched around, so it is best to access using the
object designation.
Dec 16, 2009:
-- The initial post-launch WISE spacecraft trajectory is now available
(Earth orbiting).
Dec 14, 2009:
-- The SOHO spacecraft trajectory (near L1) is now available, beginning
with 2008-Jun-1. Spacecraft ID is "-21". Select it as target using
that number or its unique name ("SOHO").
SOHO can also be used as an observing site by picking a target
(i.e., "Sun") and then a coordinate center of "@-21" (or "@SOHO").
Nov 24, 2009:
-- Unidentified object 9U01FF6 has been added to Horizons. It may be
accessed under that designation or the unofficial SPK ID 9901885.
The object is thought to be artificial and a piece of debris, based
on trajectory response to solar radiation pressure.
Nov 07, 2009:
-- Version 3.35a
Fixed a bug that caused no output when using calendrical output
stepping to step by month into a non-existent range of date labels
(i.e., the Gregorian calendar switch-over point in October 1582).
Oct 28, 2009:
-- Rosetta spacecraft trajectory update for Nov 13 Earth flyby.
Oct 19, 2009:
-- Kepler trajectory updated to reflect last several months of tracking
data, with predicts to 2013.
Oct 07, 2009:
-- Final LCROSS pre-impact update for Horizons.
-- Cassini reference trajectory updated.
Sep 29, 2009:
-- LCROSS spacecraft trajectory has been updated to model the impact
targeting maneuver TCM-8 planned for tomorrow, Sep 30, 2009 @15:00 UTC.
Further trajectory update(s) are expected in the days ahead.
Sep 28, 2009:
-- MESSENGER trajectory update from APL for tomorrow's Mercury flyby and
gravity-assist: 2009-Sep-29 21:56 UTC at 228 km altitude.
Sep 25, 2009:
-- Jupiter planet-center (599) and satellites 539-549, 55050-55053,
55055-55061, and 55063-55064 have been updated to new solutions
JUP266 and JUP267 (JPL, R. Jacobson) and extended in time (1900-2099).
Sep 09, 2009:
-- Recent monthly and since-inception usage counts:
Horizons usage summary 2009-Jul-15 to 2009-Aug-15
Connections: Products:
Telnet 13073 Telnet 32056
WWW 49664 WWW 93226
E-mail 4400 E-mail 8683
SPK obj/fil 119/118
--------------------- ---------------------
Total(month) 67137 Total(month) 134084
>TOTAL(Oct96) 8453875 >TOTAL(Oct96) 13264926
Sep 04, 2009:
-- LCROSS, WISE, Chandra, MEX, VEX, Herschel & Planck spacecraft - updated.
Sep 02, 2009:
-- MEX and VEX spacecraft trajectories have been updated ... and should be
more routinely now, thanks to Jose Luis Vazquez-Garcia at ESA.
Aug 17, 2009:
-- Saturnian satellites 601-609, 612-614, 632-634, 649, 653, and
barycentric shift vector 699 for planet center have new solutions
SAT317XL, SAT321, and SAT323 (R. Jacobson, JPL) which also cover
an extended interval from 1600-2600 A.D.
Aug 14, 2009:
-- The Ulysses spacecraft trajectory has been updated to reflect all
tracking data through the final pass 2009-Jun-29. A predicted segment
extends thereafter to 2050. Thanks to Mark Ryne (JPL Navigation)
for putting this together. Way to go Ulysses! What a trip.
Aug 10, 2009:
-- Trajectories for Chandra, HST, GALEX, and the ISS were updated today.
Aug 04, 2009:
-- Cassini (-82) reference trajectory has been updated through 2017.
