The Small Bodies Node (SBN) is part of NASA's Planetary Data System (PDS). We specialize in archiving and distributing scientific data sets on asteroids, comets, small planetary satellites, and interplanetary dust. Our archive holdings include data from NASA missions, from groundbased telescopes, and from laboratory measurements.
The Data Ferret is an online tool offered by the Small Bodies Node to provide access to all Small Bodies Node asteroid, comet, and planetary satellite data. Currently, the data holdings can be searched by target or by data set. In the future, capabilities for more advanced searches will be added, including complex queries.
To find data on a specified target body, use the "Search" utility and enter the name of the body. For a list of all data sets currently included in the Ferret, with links to the data, select the "Data Sets" link. Use the "Support/Feedback" link to ask questions, provide feedback, or report problems.
Currently, nearly all of SBN's data on asteroids and planetary satellites, as well as Pluto and its satellites, have been loaded into the Ferret. Only a fraction of the comet data have been loaded so far. SBN's data on interplanetary dust, meteorites, meteors, and laboratory samples will not be included in the Ferret. For these data see the SBN archive web site using the links below.
If you prefer not to use the Ferret, or if you want SBN data sets which are not in the Ferret, use the links below to get directly to the SBN archives.
If your research benefits from the Ferret, please consider the following acknowledgment: "This research has made use of the Small Bodies Data Ferret (http://sbn.psi.edu/ferret/), supported by the NASA Planetary Data System."