Quote: "The stunning amount of forest devastation at Tunguska a century ago in Siberia may have been caused by an asteroid only a fraction as large as previously published estimates, Sandia National Laboratories supercomputer simulations suggest." Principal investigator Mark Boslough is shown explaining a fireball simulation. Photo by Randy Montoya, courtesy of Sandia National Labs, which has more info and movies.
Contents on 19 December '07
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- five listings: 4 new, 1 updated
- New MPECs -- three MPECs
- Observers -- 23 observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- seven objects
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page
- Earth's Busy Neighborhood Traffic Report
- Ephemerides for risk-rated and nearby objects
- Old & new CRT Archive
- Old News Archive & Small Objects Archive
The latest A/CC news is available via framed access, 
RSS news feed, or redirection. - Note: A/CC has a main Web site and also a backup site with its own duplicate RSS news feed.
Navigation tips: Use the << and >> arrows on the menus for each regular section (Observers, Risks, etc.) to move to the previous and next day's news for that section. Use the Index menu item to access specific days this year through a calendar interface. And use the all-up news archive to access news from any time since A/CC began in early 2002. To keep track of what's new each day, watch the Chronology section.
NEOCP Activity on 19 December '07
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 5 listings: 4 new, 1 updated
When last checked at 2354 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's NEO discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had four new and one updated listings. All of these were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of eighteen objects listed on the NEOCP at some point today.
To learn how observers use the NEOCP, see the Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object by Birtwhistle et al. at Suno Observatory.
New MPECs on 19 December '07
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2354 UTC, there have been three MPECs issued today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2007-Y30 time-stamped "07:10 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2007-Y31 time-stamped "14:45 UT" - 2007 YX1 - see below
- MPEC 2007-Y32 time-stamped "18:21 UT" - 2007 YB2
MPEC 2007-Y32 - "18:21 UT" - 2007 YB2
- K07Y02B 2007 YB2 (risk-listed, Q=4.366 AU, H=18.0 ~851m) was discovered at 0817 UT on 18 Dec. by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), which observed it at Dec. 18.35-37p4 and 18.49-50p4. The discovery was confirmed by McDonald Obs. (Dec. 18.52-53p2), Farra d'Isonzo Obs. (Dec. 19.04-06p2), and the Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) (Dec. 19.44-46p3).
MPEC 2007-Y31 - "14:45 UT" - 2007 YX1
- K07Y01X 2007 YX1 (Q=4.530 AU, H=17.1 ~1.29 km) was discovered at 0325 UT on 18 Dec. by the CSS, which observed it at Oct. 21.33-36p4 and Dec. 18.14-16p4. The discovery was confirmed by the SZTE Asteroid Program (SZTE) (Dec. 18.74-76p3), Irmtraut Obs. (Dec. 18.80-82p3), Farra d'Isonzo Obs. (Dec. 18.85p1 & 18.93p1), and McDonald Obs. (Dec. 19.12-14p3).
<< DOU on 19 Dec. '07 >> MPEC 2007-Y30 - "07:10 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K07Y01N 2007 YN1 (small asteroid, Q=4.606 AU, arc=1 day, H=25.0 ~34m) from KLENOT (Dec. 18.92p3)
- K07Y01G 2007 YG1 (arc=2 days, H=17.8 ~933m) from Junk Bond Obs. (Dec. 18.49-53p3)
- K07X25F 2007 XF25 (arc=3 days, H=20.9 ~224m) from Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) (Dec. 18.20p5) and Grasslands Obs. (Dec. 18.23-24p3)
- K07X11K 2007 XK11 (Q=4.423 AU, arc=12 days, H=19.2 ~490m) from McDonald Obs. (Dec. 18.15-16p3)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K07Y00Z 2007 YZ (arc=1 day, H=19.9 ~355m) from LINEAR (Dec. 18.31-37p10), Bisei Spaceguard Center (Bisei) (Dec. 18.62-63p5), and KLENOT (Dec. 18.97-98p6)
- K07X18F 2007 XF18 (i=59.3°, arc=7 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 19.06-07p2)
- K07X10D 2007 XD10 (arc=13 days, H=20.8 ~234m) from the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope (Dec. 16.43-47p3) and the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Dec. 18.25-26p3)
- K07X10B 2007 XB10 (i=42.3°, arc=13 days, H=17.4 ~1.12 km) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.15p1)
- K07X03P 2007 XP3 (q=0.246 AU, Q=4.346 AU, arc=15 days, H=19.1 ~513m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 16.31-36p3) and KLENOT (Dec. 18.95-96p4)
- K07W04V 2007 WV4 (i=38.3°, arc=29 days, H=19.2 ~490m) from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 18.20-22p3)
- K07W03Y 2007 WY3 (Q=4.937 AU, arc=29 days, H=18.2 ~776m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 17.41-45p3)
- K07W03V 2007 WV3 (arc=30 days, H=19.6 ~407m) from CSS (Dec. 14.45-47p4) and Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 18.34-38p3)
- K07VI9G 2007 VG189 (arc=35 days, H=19.1 ~513m) from MLS (Dec. 15.24-26p4)
- K07VD7W 2007 VW137 (arc=40 days, H=18.1 ~812m) from MLS (Dec. 16.24-27p4) and Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 18.06-09p3)
- Observations of almost-small asteroids (21.7<H<=22.0)
- K07VI4H 2007 VH184 (Q=4.093 AU, arc=37 days, H=21.9 ~141m) from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 18.25-30p3)
- Observations of other objects
- K07Y01M 2007 YM1 (arc=1 day, H=20.7 ~245m) from Irmtraut Obs. (Dec. 18.84-86p4)
- K07Y01F 2007 YF1 (arc=2 days, H=18.7 ~616m) from Junk Bond Obs. (Dec. 18.44-50p4)
- K07Y00H 2007 YH (arc=2 days, H=20.1 ~323m) from LINEAR (Dec. 18.28-32p4)
- K07X20J 2007 XJ20 (arc=3 days, H=18.2 ~776m) from MLS (Dec. 16.38-40p4)
- K07X16H 2007 XH16 (arc=10 days, H=19.4 ~446m) from Tiki Obs. (Dec. 18.32-40p5), Saint-Barthelemy Obs. (Dec. 18.96-01p12), and Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 18.97-98p5)
- K07X10C 2007 XC10 (i=48.0°, arc=13 days, H=19.3 ~467m) from CSS (Dec. 18.25-27p4)
- K07X09Y 2007 XY9 (arc=15 days, H=21.0 ~214m) from MLS (Dec. 18.16-18p4) and KLENOT (Dec. 18.89p7)
- K07X03T 2007 XT3 (arc=14 days, H=21.4 ~178m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.08-11p3), SZTE (Dec. 17.73-74p4), LINEAR (Dec. 18.13-18p5), and Guidestar Obs. (Dec. 18.82-84p3)
- K07X03N 2007 XN3 (Q=4.114 AU, arc=13 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from MLS (Dec. 16.17-18p3)
- K07W04W 2007 WW4 (arc=29 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 18.13-18p3)
- K07W04U 2007 WU4 (arc=27 days, H=18.7 ~616m) from MLS (Dec. 16.32-34p4)
- K07VI3R 2007 VR183 (Q=4.353 AU, arc=95 days, H=17.3 ~1.17 km) from McDonald Obs. (Dec. 18.24-25p3)
- K07VD7X 2007 VX137 (arc=40 days, H=18.5 ~676m) from McDonald Obs. (Dec. 18.20-23p3)
- K07V04Q 2007 VQ4 (arc=45 days, H=15.8 ~2.34 km, q=1.271 AU) from Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Dec. 18.82-86p4)
- K07U01X 2007 UX1 (arc=60 days, H=20.4 ~282m) from CSS (Dec. 16.22-24p4)
- K07T18X 2007 TX18 (arc=2 opp, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from MLS (Dec. 16.19-21p4)
- K07T15G 2007 TG15 (arc=69 days, H=19.6 ~407m) from MLS (Dec. 16.19-21p4) and CSS (Dec. 16.20-21p3)
- K07S06P 2007 SP6 (arc=88 days, H=18.2 ~776m) from CSS (Dec. 16.32-34p4) and Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Dec. 18.79-80p3)
- K07O03G 2007 OG3 (arc=149 days, H=18.4 ~708m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.29-33p3)
- K07M13K 2007 MK13 (arc=180 days, H=20.0 ~339m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 18.42-43p3)
- K07L19Q 2007 LQ19 (Q=4.247 AU, arc=187 days, H=17.3 ~1.17 km) from CSS (Dec. 18.25-27p4)
- K05W56J 2005 WJ56 from program code 4 via Table Mtn. Obs. (Dec. 16.39-41p3)
- K05U00B 2005 UB (arc=3 opp, H=16.7 ~1.55 km) from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 18.41-46p3)
- K03X00L 2003 XL (arc=4 opp, H=17.3 ~1.17 km) from SZTE (Dec. 17.75-76p2 & 18.80-81p3)
- K03W25L 2003 WL25 (Q=4.175 AU, arc=3 opp, H=16.7 ~1.55 km) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 16.20-23p3)
- K03B84H 2003 BH84 (arc=2 opp, H=16.9 ~1.41 km) from Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Dec. 18.65-68p4), Saint-Barthelemy Obs. (Dec. 18.79-82p3), and Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 19.04-05p5)
- K02X04Y 2002 XY4 (i=43.1°, arc=3 opp, H=19.0 ~537m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.39p1 & 18.43-44p3)
- K02T70C 2002 TC70 (arc=3 opp, H=21.1 ~204m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 16.45p1)
- K02C19C 2002 CC19 (i=50.1°, arc=5 opp, H=17.6 ~1.02 km) from CSS (Dec. 18.51-53p4)
- J98Y04M 1998 YM4 (arc=2 opp, H=19.7 ~389m) from CSS (Dec. 15.39-41p4) and LINEAR (Dec. 18.32-38p5)
- J91J00W 1991 JW (arc=5 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 16.50-53p2)
- J89A00Z 1989 AZ (arc=3 opp, H=19.5 ~426m) from SZTE (Dec. 18.69-71p3)
- H0903 170903 2004 WS2 from CSS (Dec. 15.21-23p4)
- G9675 169675 2002 JM97 from MLS (Dec. 16.28-29p4)
- F5334 155334 2006 DZ169 from MLS (Dec. 16.41-42p4)
- F4347 154347 2002 XK4 from CSS (Dec. 18.40-42p4) and Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 18.48-49p5)
- F3201 153201 2000 WO107 from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 18.13-17p3)
- F2942 152942 2000 FN10 from CSS (Dec. 18.37-39p4)
- E4922 144922 2005 CK38 from CSS (Dec. 15.42-44p4)
- E0288 140288 2001 SN289 from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 18.51-54p3)
- D7084 137084 1998 XS16 from CSS (Dec. 18.14-16p4)
- 90403 90403 2003 YE45 from CSS (Dec. 16.29-31p4) and LINEAR (Dec. 18.27-32p5)
- 86324 86324 1999 WA2 from Siegen Obs. (Dec. 17.78-79p2)
- 68063 68063 2000 YJ66 from LONEOS (Dec. 18.36-43p4)
- 66959 66959 1999 XO35 from LINEAR (Dec. 18.09-11p3)
- 66251 66251 1999 GJ2 from LINEAR (Dec. 18.20-25p5)
- 65706 65706 1992 NA from LINEAR (Dec. 18.34-38p4)
- 53319 53319 1999 JM8 from MLS (Dec. 16.51-53p4)
- 34613 34613 2000 UR13 from MLS (Dec. 18.35-36p4)
- 25916 25916 2001 CP44 from LONEOS (Dec. 18.35-43p4)
- 23548 23548 1994 EF2 from LINEAR (Dec. 18.48-52p4)
- 21374 21374 1997 WS22 from CSS (Dec. 16.20-22p4) and LINEAR (Dec. 18.13-18p5)
- 20460 20460 Robwhiteley (1999 LO28) from MLS (Dec. 18.13-15p4)
- 18736 18736 1998 NU from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 18.08-11p3)
- 11405 11405 1999 CV3 from CSS (Dec. 16.51-53p4)
- 04954 4954 Eric (1990 SQ) from Siegen Obs. (Dec. 17.80-81p3)
- 03691 3691 Bede (1982 FT) from CSS (Dec. 16.44-46p4) and LINEAR (Dec. 18.46-51p5)
- 03553 3553 Mera (1985 JA) from CSS (Dec. 15.16-17p3)
- 03288 3288 Seleucus (1982 DV) from CSS (Dec. 15.36-38p4)
- 01862 1862 Apollo (1932 HA) from CSS (Dec. 15.42-44p4) and LINEAR (Dec. 18.33-38p5)
- 01580 1580 Betulia (1950 KA) from CSS (Dec. 18.06-08p4) and LINEAR (Dec. 18.19-25p5)
Observers on 19 December '07
A total of 23 observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| 300 | Bisei Spaceguard Center in Japan, 1 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 YZ |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 23 in MPECs 2007-Y30, 2007-Y31 & 2007-Y32 -- 2007 YX1, 2007 YB2, 2007 XC10, 2007 WV3, 2007 UX1, 2007 TG15, 2007 SP6, 2007 LQ19, 2002 CC19, 1998 YM4, 90403, 21374, 170903, 154347, 152942, 144922, 137084, 11405, 3691, 3553, 3288, 1862, 1580 |
| 448 | Desert Moon Obs. in New Mexico, 8 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 WW4, 2007 WV4, 2007 WV3, 2007 VW137, 2007 VH184, 2005 UB, 154347, 140288 |
| 595 | Farra d'Isonzo Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPECs 2007-Y31 & 2007-Y32 -- 2007 YX1, 2007 YB2 |
| 651 | Grasslands Obs. in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 XF25 |
| A17 | Guidestar Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 XT3 |
| 379 | Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. in Japan, 3 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 VQ4, 2007 SP6, 2003 BH84 |
| A21 | Irmtraut Obs. in Germany, 2 in MPECs 2007-Y30 & 2007-Y31 -- 2007 YX1, 2007 YM1 |
| 701 | Junk Bond Obs. in Arizona, 2 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 YG1, 2007 YF1 |
| 246 | KLENOT in the Czech Republic, 4 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 YZ, 2007 YN1, 2007 XY9, 2007 XP3 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 13 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 YZ, 2007 YH, 2007 XT3, 1998 YM4, 90403, 66959, 66251, 65706, 23548, 21374, 3691, 1862, 1580 |
| 699 | LONEOS in Arizona, 2 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 68063, 25916 |
| H01 | Magdalena Ridge Obs. in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 XF25 |
| 711 | McDonald Obs. in Texas, 5 in MPECs 2007-Y30, 2007-Y31 & 2007-Y32 -- 2007 YX1, 2007 YB2, 2007 XK11, 2007 VX137, 2007 VR183 |
| G96 | Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 14 in MPECs 2007-Y30 & 2007-Y32 -- 2007 YB2, 2007 XY9, 2007 XN3, 2007 XJ20, 2007 WU4, 2007 VW137, 2007 VG189, 2007 TX18, 2007 TG15, 53319, 34613, 20460, 169675, 155334 |
| 461 | SZTE Asteroid Program (SZTE) in Hungary, 4 in MPECs 2007-Y30 & 2007-Y31 -- 2007 YX1, 2007 XT3, 2003 XL, 1989 AZ |
| B04 | Saint-Barthelemy Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 XH16, 2003 BH84 |
| 204 | Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 3 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 XH16, 2007 XF18, 2003 BH84 |
| 510 | Siegen Obs. in Germany, 2 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 86324, 4954 |
| 691 | Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 12 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 XT3, 2007 XP3, 2007 XD10, 2007 XB10, 2007 WY3, 2007 OG3, 2003 WL25, 2002 XY4, 2002 TC70, 1991 JW, 18736, 153201 |
| 291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 2 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 XD10, 2007 MK13 |
| 6734 | program code 4 via Table Mtn. Obs. in southern California, 1 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2005 WJ56 |
| F85 | Tiki Obs. in Tahiti, 1 in MPEC 2007-Y30 -- 2007 XH16 |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 19 December '07
| 0000NNN000 Object | Risk Monitor | When Noted UTC | 0000T0000 Year Range | VI # | 000NN00 Prob Cum | T0000 PS Cum | T0000 PS Max | T S | Notes for Today's Latest Risk Assessments |
| 2007 YB2 | JPL Sentry | 2310 | 2016-2107 | 104 | 1.1e-07 | -3.22 | -4.06 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 15 observations spanning 1.1144 days (2007-Dec-18.34552 to 2007-Dec-19.45988)." Diameter approximately 0.910 km. from mean, weighted H=17.9. |
| 2007 YN1 | NEODyS | 1440 | 2081 | 1 | 8.76e-09 | -8.07 | -8.07 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 17 optical observations (of which 1 are rejected as outliers) from 2007/12/18.311 to 2007/12/18.923." |
| 2007 YH1 | NEODyS | 1440 | 2024-2059 | 5 | 2.85e-09 | -7.98 | -8.35 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 11 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2007/12/17.434 to 2007/12/18.338." |
| JPL Sentry | 0228 | 2024-2079 | 12 | 1.1e-08 | -7.69 | -8.31 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 11 observations spanning .90366 days (2007-Dec-17.43343 to 2007-Dec-18.33709)." Diameter approximately 0.041 km. from mean, weighted H=24.6. | |
| 2007 YG1 | NEODyS | 1616 | 2017-2028 | 2 | 1.97e-10 | -5.19 | -5.27 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 21 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2007/12/16.456 to 2007/12/18.531." |
| JPL Sentry | 1440 | 2019-2047 | 2 | 3.2e-10 | -5.30 | -5.51 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 21 observations spanning 2.0744 days (2007-Dec-16.45543 to 2007-Dec-18.52985)." Diameter approximately 1.200 km. from mean, weighted H=17.3. | |
| 2007 XF25 | JPL Sentry | 1440 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 1054 UTC. | |||||
| NEODyS | 1440 | R E M O V E D | |||||||
| 2007 XB23 | JPL Sentry | 0146 | 2078-2087 | 2 | 6.6e-07 | -7.56 | -7.81 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 10 observations spanning .91734 days (2007-Dec-14.56193 to 2007-Dec-15.47927)." Diameter approximately 0.013 km. from mean, weighted H=27.1. |
| 2007 XK11 | JPL Sentry | 1440 | 2064-2101 | 2 | 1.5e-07 | -4.18 | -4.25 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 44 observations spanning 12.063 days (2007-Dec-06.0886 to 2007-Dec-18.15158)." Diameter approximately 0.496 km. from mean, weighted H=19.2. |
| NEODyS | 1440 | 2045-2064 | 2 | 1.16e-07 | -4.25 | -4.25 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 45 optical observations (of which 1 are rejected as outliers) from 2007/12/06.089 to 2007/12/18.158." | |
Legend: VI# = VI count, Prob Cum = cumulative probability, PS Cum/Max = cumulative/maximum Palermo Scale, TS = Torino Scale
An impact solution, also known as a "virtual impactor" (VI), is not a prediction but rather a possibility derived from a variant orbit calculation that cannot be eliminated yet based on the existing data. Elimination can come quickly with just a little further observation or may take weeks or months, sometimes years. Once superceded or eliminated, a former impact solution has zero relevance to an object's risk. See Jon Giorgini's "Understanding Risk Pages" to learn more.
Chronology on 19 December '07
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 2310 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2007 YB2 as an impact risk - see above |
| 1832 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-Y32 - 2007 YB2 - see above |
| 1616 | Noted that NEODyS has posted 2007 YG1 as an impact risk - see above |
| 1527 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-Y31 - 2007 YX1 - see above |
| 1441 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-Y30 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
| 1440 | Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2007 XF25 as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has removed 2007 XF25 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2007 XK11 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2007 XK11 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2007 YG1 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has posted 2007 YH1 as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has posted 2007 YN1 as an impact risk - see above |
| 0228 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2007 YH1 as an impact risk - see above |
| 0146 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2007 XB23 as an impact risk - see above |
Publisher information, privacy statement, and disclaimer.
This page is © Copyright 2007 Columbine, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
Any mentioned trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Various tabular formats and data used on this page are acknowledged as belonging to JPL, MPC, NEODyS, and/or others.
Do NOT copy, mirror, or embed this page, but you are welcome to link to it, and you may embed the RSS news feed. All information here is subject to very frequent change during the day of news compilation. Individuals may make copies for their own private, non-commercial use. Please report broken links or other problems with this page to <webmaster@hohmanntransfer.com> (HTML 4.01 validation).
Important news updates are flagged by A/CC's RSS news feed (link).