What is Provisional designation in astronomy?
A '''provisional designation in astronomy''' is the naming [[wikt:convention|convention]] of [[astronomical object]]s as soon as they are found. The [[wikt:provisional|provisional]] [[designation]] is usually replaced by a [[wikt:permanent|permanent]] name once a good [[orbit]] has been [[Calculation|calculated]]. With [[asteroid]]s, so many have been found that many will never be named by the [[people]] who found them. == Other websites == * [http://aa.usno.navy.mil/hilton/AsteroidHistory/minorplanets.html When did the asteroids become minor planets?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060520185324/http://aa.usno.navy.mil/hilton/AsteroidHistory/minorplanets.html |date=2006-05-20 }} * [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/info/OldDesDoc.html New and old-style minor planet designations] (Minor Planet Center) {{science-stub}} [[Category:Astronomical objects]]