GoldBean vs Minor Planet Center
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
GoldBean vs Minor Planet Center: common questions
Which is more reliable, GoldBean or Minor Planet Center?
On our scheduled checks, GoldBean leads on measured uptime — GoldBean at 100% versus Minor Planet Center at 99.02% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.
Which is faster, GoldBean or Minor Planet Center?
Minor Planet Center has the lower median latency in our checks — GoldBean responds in 875 ms versus Minor Planet Center at 217 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do GoldBean and Minor Planet Center need an API key?
Minor Planet Center needs no key, while GoldBean requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Minor Planet Center first.
Can I call GoldBean and Minor Planet Center from the browser?
Only GoldBean 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 GoldBean and Minor Planet Center free for commercial use?
GoldBean 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.