Contents  on 15 December '20

Asteroid/Comet Connection (A/CC) Resources:

The latest A/CC news is available via framed access, RSS news feed RSS news feed, or redirection.

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 through a calendar interface. To keep track of what's new each day, watch the Chronology section.

NEOCP Activity  on 15 December '20

The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 56 listings

When last checked at 2359 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had 56 objects listed. Of these, 30 were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of 67 listings on the NEOCP today.

To learn how observers use the NEOCP, see the Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object at Suno Observatory by Birtwhistle et al.

New MPECs  on 15 December '20

Minor Planet Electronic Circulars

As of last check at 2358 UTC, there have been six MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.


MPEC 2020-X184 - "19:02 UT" - 2020 XA6


MPEC 2020-X183 - "17:58 UT" - 2020 XZ5


MPEC 2020-X182 - "17:56 UT" - 2020 XY5


MPEC 2020-X181 - "16:56 UT" - 1998 KY26


<< DOU on 15 December '20 >>  MPEC 2020-X180 - "12:25 UT" - Daily Orbit Update


MPEC 2020-X179 - "01:01 UT" - 2020 XW5

Observers  on 15 December '20

A total of 42 observers appear in today's MPECs.

CodeObserver / observatory
L74AstroColauri Obs., 1 in MPEC 2020-X184 -- 2020 XA6
H21Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield in Illinois, 2 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XW5, 2020 XA6
T05ATLAS Haleakala in Hawaii, 20 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 PC5, 2000 CN33, 87684, 85709, 85275, 65717, 36183, 35107, 186822, 162173, 154302, 138095, 11405, 8566, 7977, 5879, 4953, 4055, 1036, 887
T08ATLAS Mauna Loa in Hawaii, 36 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XN2, 2020 XN1, 2020 XL3, 2020 XH1, 2020 WS5, 2020 VQ6, 2020 TG4, 2018 KM2, 2016 YM, 2016 ED85, 2015 BF4, 2012 SA22, 2003 YM1, 2002 TS67, 99935, 89355, 474554, 438902, 416694, 307493, 305090, 23183, 21088, 16834, 163693, 162186, 162039, 153201, 10115, 7753, 5836, 5131, 2368, 2212, 1866, 1580
G17BAS Obs., 5 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XH1, 2020 TG4, 153201, 138095, 6053
L54Berthelot Obs., 2 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2002 GZ8, 153201
V00Bok Telescope in Arizona, 11 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XY3, 2020 WG3, 2020 VE, 2020 TN6, 2020 SK1, 2020 SF3, 2009 KK, 2000 PQ27, 480934, 416694, 138971
703Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 12 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XN2, 2020 XN1, 2020 XH1, 2020 XF4, 2016 JU33, 2015 BF4, 2013 YS2, 2009 WD11, 2006 WG129, 2003 YM1, 2002 TS67, 153201
309&Marco Micheli via Cerro Paranal in Chile, 1 in MPEC 2020-X181 -- 1998 KY26
807|Robert Holmes in Illinois via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) in Chile, 30 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XV4, 2020 XV2, 2020 XO2, 2020 XN1, 2020 XK3, 2020 XH4, 2020 XG4, 2020 XF3, 2020 XE5, 2020 XD4, 2020 XC3, 2020 XA5, 2020 XA3, 2020 WZ1, 2020 WY2, 2020 WU2, 2020 WO3, 2020 WK3, 2020 VY1, 2020 VM6, 2020 VF2, 2020 TM2, 2020 TC7, 2020 TB12, 2020 SS2, 2020 RO6, 2020 QR7, 2020 PC5, 2020 NL1, 2020 HZ9
Z99Clixby Obs. in England, 1 in MPEC 2020-X184 -- 2020 XA6
K87Dettelbach Vineyard Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2020-X184 -- 2020 XA6
595Farra d'Isonzo Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2020-X184 -- 2020 XA6
K83Forti Obs., 1 in MPEC 2020-X184 -- 2020 XA6
W46Foxfire Village Obs., 4 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2003 YJ, 345705, 275714, 3908
L34Galhassin Robotic Telescope, 2 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XA6, 2020 WS5
E89Geyserland Obs. in New Zealand, 1 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 153201
K88GINOP-KHK in Hungary, 2 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XL3, 2020 PK7
J95Great Shefford Obs. in England, 2 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XX3, 2020 XA6
C40Kuban State Univ. Obs. in Russia, 1 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 53435
C401program code 1 via Kuban State Univ. Obs. in Russia, 2 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 53435, 159402
598Loiano Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2020-X182 -- 2020 XY5
130Lumezzane Obs. in Italy, 6 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XN2, 2020 VC7, 2016 OP5, 2004 LU3, 153201, 9172
568<program code "<" (37) on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2020-X181 -- 1998 KY26
474Mt. John Obs. in New Zealand, 8 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XZ3, 2020 XE5, 2020 WT5, 2020 WP1, 2020 WE4, 2020 VM6, 65717, 360502
G96Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 39 in MPECs 2020-X179, 2020-X180, 2020-X182, 2020-X183 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XZ5, 2020 XY5, 2020 XY4, 2020 XW5, 2020 XP, 2020 XN1, 2020 XJ, 2020 XH1, 2020 XA6, 2020 WS5, 2020 WL1, 2020 WH2, 2020 WF3, 2020 WC3, 2020 QQ6, 2020 LB3, 2018 KM2, 2016 GN220, 2015 BF4, 1999 HV1, 512245, 482566, 480824, 434632, 420302, 418416, 385343, 351331, 319988, 302591, 203471, 198752, 154007, 153306, 141053, 108519, 6239, 4450, 3360
C51NEOWISE in Earth polar orbit, 2 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2016 LV8, 190208
Z80Northolt Branch Obs. in England, 2 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2016 YM, 163902
F51Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) in Hawaii, 9 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X183 -- 2020 XZ5, 2020 UR4, 2020 LB3, 2007 AC12, 319988, 256412, 190166, 163014, 4450
F52Pan-STARRS 2 in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2020-X183 -- 2020 XZ5
K63Pascoli Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XS5, 2020 XA6
L47Piobbico Obs., 1 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2013 UX14
W16Pleasant Groves Obs., 1 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 507355
C95SATINO-1 in France, 1 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 17182
0331program code 1 via Schwarzschild Obs. in Germany, 8 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XX3, 2020 XW5, 2020 XW, 2020 XP2, 2020 XJ3, 2020 XE4, 2020 XA6, 2020 WZ5
691Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 4 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XX3, 2020 XD5, 2006 UL185, 2006 RJ1
291Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 4 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 2020 XX3, 2020 XD1, 2020 XC, 2020 QZ3
W34Squirrel Valley Obs. in North Carolina, 4 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XA6, 2020 TG4, 2003 YJ, 163364
I52Steward Obs. Mt. Lemmon Station in Arizona, 6 in MPECs 2020-X179, 2020-X180, 2020-X182 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XY5, 2020 XY3, 2020 XW5, 2020 XV4, 2020 XA6, 2020 SO
W33Transit Dreams Obs., 7 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XA6, 2011 GD60, 99935, 68359, 55532, 21088, 7753
T12UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up 2.24m Telescope in Hawaii, 2 in MPECs 2020-X180 & 2020-X181 -- 2006 MA, 1998 KY26
L01Visnjan Obs. in Croatia, 3 in MPECs 2020-X179, 2020-X182 & 2020-X184 -- 2020 XY5, 2020 XW5, 2020 XA6
I41Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) in southern California, 2 in MPEC 2020-X180 -- 68950, 188452
For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page.

Impact Risk Monitoring  on 15 December '20

Summary Risk Table for Risk Assessments Updated Today   (last checks: NEODyS at 2359 UTC)
See the CRT page for a list of all objects rated recently as risks and our ephemerides page for a list of risk-listed objects under current observation.
The time horizon for JPL and NEODyS listings is 100 years, and both post impact solutions beyond that for some special objects.
For the latest official risk assessments, and for explanations of the terminology, see the NASA/JPL Sentry and NEODyS CLOMON2 risk pages.
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
2020 XA6JPL Sentry21002065-207471.741374e-05-3.99-4.210JPL: Computed at 12:35 today Pacific time based on 55 observations spanning 1.6318 days (2020-Dec-14.124162 to 2020-Dec-15.755939). Diameter approximately 0.053 km. from weighted mean H=24.02.
2020 XK5NEODyS17002110-211423.61e-09-8.13-8.130NEODyS: "Based on 15 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-12.388 to 2020-12-14.540."
2020 XD5JPL Sentry1700R E M O V E DJPL: Risk listing removed at 1432 UTC today
2020 XF4JPL Sentry17002093-211992.729255e-06-7.17-7.550JPL: Computed at 06:40 today Pacific time based on 56 observations spanning 9.8162 days (2020-Dec-05.43588 to 2020-Dec-15.252128). Diameter approximately 0.011 km. from weighted mean H=27.45.
NEODyS17002104-2119122.74e-06-7.18-7.420NEODyS: "Based on 56 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-05.437 to 2020-12-15.253."
2020 XX3JPL Sentry17002086-2119206.2245583e-05-6.26-6.380JPL: Computed at 06:36 today Pacific time based on 50 observations spanning 4.9705 days (2020-Dec-10.276407 to 2020-Dec-15.24689). Diameter approximately 0.007 km. from weighted mean H=28.55.
NEODyS17002086-2120196.39e-05-6.24-6.31n/aNEODyS: "Based on 50 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-10.277 to 2020-12-15.248."
2020 XCJPL Sentry17002085-208516.869e-07-8.43-8.430JPL: Computed at 06:07 today Pacific time based on 51 observations spanning 10.957 days (2020-Dec-03.36221 to 2020-Dec-14.31914). Diameter approximately 0.005 km. from weighted mean H=29.00.
NEODyS17002085-211727.4e-07-8.41-8.420NEODyS: "Based on 51 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-03.363 to 2020-12-14.320."
2019 YSJPL Sentry17002089-2116127.1691e-07-9.66-10.330JPL: Computed at 07:04 Dec. 21st of 2019 Pacific time based on 22 observations spanning 1.7203 days (2019-Dec-19.234699 to 2019-Dec-20.954973). Diameter approximately 0.002 km. from weighted mean H=31.51.
2015 XR169JPL Sentry17002050-21191465.2294234e-05-6.32-7.320JPL: Computed at 06:49 July 15th of 2019 Pacific time based on 32 observations spanning 6.7887 days (2015-Dec-06.468743 to 2015-Dec-13.25744). Diameter approximately 0.006 km. from weighted mean H=28.84.
2011 SL189JPL Sentry17002043-210058.634e-10-8.79-9.320JPL: Computed at 20:50 April 22nd of 2017 Pacific time based on 11 observations spanning .91578 days (2011-Sep-29.31662 to 2011-Sep-30.2324). Diameter approximately 0.040 km. from weighted mean H=24.63.
2010 WW8JPL Sentry17002021-2112811.35367e-07-6.97-7.430JPL: Computed at 11:07 April 9th of 2017 Pacific time based on 12 observations spanning .06622 days (2010-Nov-30.37333 to 2010-Nov-30.43955). Diameter approximately 0.018 km. from weighted mean H=26.41.
2004 XO63JPL Sentry17002065-206517.276e-08-7.72-7.720JPL: Computed at 21:46 April 18th of 2017 Pacific time based on 39 observations spanning 5.9306 days (2004-Dec-15.18718 to 2004-Dec-21.11781). Diameter approximately 0.021 km. from weighted mean H=26.08.
2001 YN2JPL Sentry1700R E M O V E DJPL

Legend: VI# = VI count, Prob Cum = cumulative probability, PS Cum/Max = cumulative/maximum Palermo Scale, TS = Torino Scale (next 100 years)

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 15 December '20

Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.

2100Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2020 XA6 as an impact risk - see above
2000Grabbed MPEC 2020-X184 - 2020 XA6 - see above
1800Grabbed MPEC 2020-X182 - 2020 XY5 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-X183 - 2020 XZ5 - see above
1700Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2001 YN2 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2004 XO63 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2010 WW8 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2011 SL189 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2015 XR169 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2019 YS risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XC risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XC risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2020 XD5 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XF4 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XF4 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has posted 2020 XK5 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XX3 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XX3 risk assessment - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-X180 - Daily Orbit Update - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-X181 - 1998 KY26 - see above
0545Grabbed MPEC 2020-X179 - 2020 XW5 - see above