Template:MPC/doc

Description
This template creates an external link to the Minor Planet Center's (MPC) object page for a specific minor planet, based on its number or provisional designation. The template can also be used for comets. The MPC object page is a summary page of a body's discovery, orbital, and observational data. It is displayed when using the MPC Database Search engine for a single object search.

Usage
Note: not replacing white spaces with a plus sign (+) may result in URL corruption or a link to an erroneous object view.

This template accepts 2 unnamed parameters. The required first parameter is the minor planet's unique identifier. The optional second parameter is replacement wikilink text.

Numbered minor planets
For numbered minor planets, simply use its number:
 * produces 75482, a link to MPC's corresponding page for
 * produces (75482) 1999 XC173

Unnumbered minor planets
For unnumbered minor planets, use a plus-sign (+) between the numeric and alphanumeric part of the provisional designation:
 * produces 2010+JL88, a link to MPC's corresponding page for
 * produces 2010 JL88

Comets
For comets, also use a plus sign (+) instead of white spaces: For numbered comets do not add the name part of the comet's designation:
 * produces P/2011+NO1, an external link to MPC's corresponding page for P/2011 NO1 (Elenin) (i.e. P/2011 NO1)
 * produces P/2011 NO1
 * produces 46P, an external link to MPC's corresponding page for 46P/Wirtanen
 * produces 46P/Wirtanen