StoneBusters

Explore and track asteroids and comets. A powerful tool for amateur astronomers and professional observers focused on Near-Earth Objects.

On the mobile screen, users can access data from the Minor Planet Center, such as the NEO Confirmation Page (NEOCP) and the Possible Comet Confirmation Page (PCCP). A list of recently observed NEOs, organized by classification: unnumbered single-opposition, multiple-opposition, and numbered objects. Object from NEOfixer (University of Arizona) may be visualized, filtered and sorted. A personalized “starred” list let the user to have a list of preferred objects available for quick view and a custom list of selected objects, based on various physical and observational parameters may also be listed.

Additionally, a list of objects that were removed from the NEOCP is available, with each object graphically categorized by its final classification (e.g., NEO, comet, artificial object, missing object, etc.).

Once an object is selected, the app provides detailed information, including: an observation summary (observatory codes and details), Ephemeris calculation, Orbital elements and uncertainty orbit graphic representation for NEO.

Users can also "identify" an object displaying physical and orbital data retrieved from NASA JPL's Solar System Dynamics (SSD) database. This includes secondary designations, discovery circumstances, and citation text (if available).

There is also the possibility to “WAMO” an object with personal MPC observatory code to obtain the status of observation, and also have Summary WAMO data visualized as bar histograms and tables. As a curiosity—and to assist users without an observatory code—if location permissions are enabled, the app can list the 30 nearest observatory codes based on distance from the user's device. (For security reasons, the exact coordinates or map positions of the observatories are not displayed, and never will be.)

The app relies on APIs provided by:

• The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's SSD and CNEOS (Center for Near-Earth Object Studies)
• NEOfixer (University of Arizona) Some calculations, such as topocentric ephemerides, are performed directly on the device. While the app provides convenient, on-the-fly previews of information, users are strongly encouraged to refer to the official sources mentioned above for authoritative and professionally calculated data.