Data Set Overview : OVERVIEW  The data set lists orbital and physical properties for well-observed or suspected binary/multiple minor planets and the Pluto system, as inspired by Richardson and Walsh (2006) and similar reviews (Merline et al., 2003; Noll, 2006; Pravec et al., 2006; Pravec and Harris, 2007; Descamps and Marchis, 2008; Noll et al., 2008). In total 173 companions in 165 systems are included. Data are presented in two tables, one for orbital and physical properties and one for companion designations, discovery information, and reference codes for data values. Data are ordered by asteroid number, then provisional designation. This data set is complete for binary/multiple components reported through 10 March 2009, with some additional data through 4 May 2009.  ORBITAL/PHYSICAL PROPERTIES TABLE  The first table (binarytable2) lists orbital and physical properties of binary/multiple minor planets, with the following data:  * minor planet number, name, and provisional designation; * minor planet dynamical type (from Minor Planet Center classifications); * minor planet heliocentric semimajor axis (AU) and eccentricity; * primary diameter (km) with uncertainty and note code; * primary spin period (h) with uncertainty and note code; * companion semimajor axis (km) with uncertainty and note code; * companion diameter (km) with uncertainty and note code; * companion orbital period (d) with uncertainty and note code; * primary geometric albedo with uncertainty and note code; * system mass (kg) with uncertainty and note code; * and system density (g/cm^3) with uncertainty and note code.  Dynamical type codes are as follows: AMO : Amor, APO : Apollo, ATE : Aten, MC : Mars crosser, MB : Main Belt asteroid, JL4 : Jupiter L4 Trojan, JL5 : Jupiter L5 Trojan, CUB : Cubewano, PLU : Plutino, 1:2 : Neptune 1:2 resonance object, 2:5 : Neptune 2:5 resonance object, 4:7 : Neptune 4:7 resonance object, SDO : scattered disk object, and TNO : other trans- Neptunian object.   Note codes indicate comments on data values as follows: A : assumed value; D : derived from published measurements; E : estimated based on assumed values; G : greater than; H : (for spin period) spin period of one-half the stated value also possible; L : less than; Q : (for spin period) multiple periods exist, with association of period with primary inconclusive; R : (for primary geometric albedo) red albedo; S : (for binary semimajor axis) projected separation distance.  Dashes or invalid inputs (usually -9.99) indicate unassigned or unknown values. Unmeasured primary diameters are estimated based on JPL-reported absolute magnitude values (H) generally assuming albedos of 0.16 for NEAs/main belt asteroids or 0.09 for trans-Neptunian objects. Some secondary diameters are derived from measured ratios of companion diameter to primary diameter, or from the magnitude difference between components assuming equal albedos. For some objects with unknown binary semimajor axis values, the projected separation distance is provided. Estimated values of semimajor axis and/or orbital period are order-of-magnitude figures only, based on assumed values of density and/or albedo and (in some cases) assuming the binary semimajor axis is the same as the projected separation. If unmeasured, system densities are assumed to be 1.6 g/cm^3 for NEAs/main belt asteroids or 1.0 g/cm^3 for trans-Neptunian objects. Regarding uncertainties on measured values, readers are referred to the respective references.   COMPANION DESIGNATIONS/DISCOVERY INFORMATION/REFERENCES TABLE  The second table (binaryothref2) includes companion designations (either permanent or provisional), discovery information, and reference codes for for data values listed in the orbital and physical properties table, as follows:  * minor planet number, name, and provisional designation; * code for discovery detection method; * year of announcement of the discovery; * and reference codes.  Discovery method codes are as follows: A : adaptive optics telescope imaging, C : combined radar/lightcurve observations, H : Hubble Space Telescope imaging, I : imaging, other or unspecified, L : photometric lightcurve observations, R : radar observations, S : spacecraft imaging. Reference codes are given for each orbital or physical property value, with codes referring to complete references listed in a separate file. Dashes or spaces indicate unassigned values.   MODIFICATION HISTORY  Differences between the current database version and the previous version (2006) are:  * The current version includes data on 173 components in 165 systems, or 113 more components and 105 more systems than the previous release. New or revised parameters are reported for 53 of the 60 binaries included in the previous release. * Entries are now provided for all components in systems with more than two components. * In addition to parameters listed in the previous release, the current release also includes data on geometric albedo, discovery method, date of discovery announcement, and secondary designation. * Dynamical types are more specific, differentiating types of NEOs, Jupiter Trojans, and KBOs. * Codes have been added for parameter values, indicating derived/assumed values and other notes. * If assumed values of density and/or albedo are used to estimate other parameters, the assumed values are listed with an appropriate note code. * References are identified for each parameter individually, rather than collectively for each object.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION  This data set is intended to provide a quick overview of data on asteroids and trans-Neptunian objects with companions. Readers should refer to the original works regarding cited data and for additional details. Also, there currently exists a number of electronic databases on minor planets with more extensive information, some of which we note:  * Johnston, W. R., Asteroids with Satellites [http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/astro/asteroidmoons.html]. * Richardson, D. C., K. Walsh, N. Vogel, and D. Bettis, Minor Planet Satellite Database [http://borg.astro.umd.edu/~dwb/asteroid/]. * Marchis, F., et al., Virtual Observatory Binary Asteroids Database [http://cilaos.berkeley.edu/PHP_scripts/VOBAD/VOBAD_portal.html]. * Warner, B. D., A. W. Harris, and P. Pravec, Lightcurve Parameters [http://www.minorplanetobserver.com/astlc/LightcurveParameters.htm].  The NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) was used in compiling the data presented.   REFERENCES  Descamps, P., and F. Marchis, 2008, Angular momentum of binary asteroids: Implications for their possible origin, Icarus, 193:74-84.  Merline, W. J., S. J. Weidenschilling, D. D. Durda, J.-L. Margot, P. Pravec, and A. D. Storrs, 2003, Asteroids do have Satellites, in Asteroids III, W. F. Bottke Jr., A. Cellino, P. Paolicchi, and R. P. Binzel (eds.), Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, 289-312.  Noll, K. S., 2006, Solar system binaries, in Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, Proceedings of the 229th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union, L. Daniela et al. (eds.), Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, 301-318.  Noll, K. S., W. M. Grundy, E. I. Chiang, J.-L. Margot, and S. D. Kern, 2008, Binaries in the Kuiper Belt, in The Solar System Beyond Neptune, M. A. Barucci, H. Boehnhardt, D. P. Cruikshank, and A. Morbidelli (eds.), Univ. of Arizona Press, Tucson, 345-363.  Pravec, P., and A. W. Harris, 2007, Binary asteroid population: 1. Angular momentum content, Icarus, 190:250-259.  Pravec, P., et al., 2006, Photometric survey of binary near-Earth asteroids, Icarus, 181:63-93.  Richardson, D. C., and K. J. Walsh, 2006, Binary minor planets, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., 34:47-81.

Confidence Level Overview : The Astrophysics Data System (ADS) was used to collect the data presented in the table. Users are referred to the individual papers in the ancillary document for the confidence level of each item.