• TARGETS
  • TIMING
  • PRIORITY
  • HUMAN

How to plan asteroid observations with your AI

Connect to ESA Near Earth Objects to turn raw orbital data into a structured observation plan.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use AI to plan asteroid observations?

Your AI pulls real-time close approach data from ESA and filters it by physical characteristics or orbital priority. You get a specific list of targets with the exact coordinates and timing needed for your telescope.

Observation outcomes

Where your data lands.

The AI processes orbital data to give you these specific results.

TARGETS

Filtered target lists

The AI uses orbital and physical data to find specific objects that meet your criteria. You get a clean list of what to look for.

TIMING

Precise ephemerides

Get the exact position and timing for each object. This ensures your telescope is pointed at the right spot at the right time.

PRIORITY

Ranked observation queues

The AI sorts objects based on proximity or scientific interest. You'll know which targets to hit first during a clear night.

HUMAN

Manual telescope setup

The AI provides the data, but you still handle the physical hardware. You decide which specific coordinates to input into your mount.

The workflow

What your AI does when the data arrives.

The AI acts as a data analyst, pulling from ESA to build your schedule.

  1. Identify targets

    The AI scans for any objects currently heading toward Earth.

    get_upcoming_close_approaches

  2. Filter by properties

    It narrows the list by looking at size, brightness, or other physical traits.

    get_object_physical_properties

  3. Calculate positions

    The AI pulls the exact orbital paths and coordinates for your chosen objects.

    get_object_ephemerides

  4. Organize schedule

    It ranks the objects so you can focus on the most important ones first.

    get_priority_list

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to kick off your planning.

Starting points

Swap out the object names or specific physical traits to match your research needs.

ESA NEOCC Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_LGhkTG7QrovV9yDxcO38dfZ25anhkSN2RREishuz/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — ESA NEOCC capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "esa-near-earth-objects-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_LGhkTG7QrovV9yDxcO38dfZ25anhkSN2RREishuz/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Find all upcoming close approaches for this month.

  • List the physical properties of the asteroid 2023 DW.

  • Get the ephemerides for the top priority objects in the current list.

  • Give me a priority list of objects passing within 0.05 AU.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect ESA Near Earth Objects once, then ask.

One connection gives your AI access to the ESA data stream. You can then start asking for specific orbital data immediately.

Connect ESA Near Earth Objects to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves.

  • 01

    Can the AI control my telescope directly?

    No. The AI provides the orbital data and coordinates, but you must manually input those into your telescope or control software.

  • 02

    Does the AI update the ESA database?

    No. The AI only reads data from the ESA source to provide you with information. It cannot change or delete any orbital records.

  • 03

    Can I filter by asteroid diameter?

    Yes, the AI can use physical properties to find objects within a specific size range.

  • 04

    How accurate are the coordinates?

    The AI provides the ephemerides exactly as they are reported in the ESA data.

  • 05

    Can the AI predict future approaches next year?

    The AI can only retrieve data for the approaches currently available in the ESA dataset.

  • More questions about ESA Near Earth Objects? The Connector page answers them. See everything the ESA Near Earth Objects Connector can do

Connect ESA NEOCC to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more