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GBIF vs Minor Planet Center

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APIGBIFNEW—Minor Planet CenterNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesno
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified (data derived from JPL/MPC)
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

GBIF vs Minor Planet Center: common questions

Which is more reliable, GBIF or Minor Planet Center?

On our scheduled checks, Minor Planet Center leads on measured uptime — GBIF at —% versus Minor Planet Center at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do GBIF and Minor Planet Center need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — GBIF is callable with no signup, and Minor Planet Center is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call GBIF and Minor Planet Center from the browser?

Only GBIF is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Minor Planet Center needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are GBIF and Minor Planet Center free for commercial use?

GBIF has unclear commercial terms, and Minor Planet Center has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.