Contents  on 20 December '20

CHANGES COMING:  The Asteroid/Comet Connection Web site will soon focus completely on Earth's Busy Neighborhood reporting. Sometime on or soon after Sunday, December 27th, much of the site will be retired.* The Tracking News will be discontinued and taken down entirely** along with its supporting timeline pages, the archives of its predecessor online publication, Major News About Minor Objects, and our even longer running Consolidated Risk Tables feature. Remaining will be Earth's Busy Neighborhood along with its sky chart, ephemerides, and some supporting pages (e.g. Observatory Links). We do plan to make the Web site easier to use, more interesting as regards close-passing asteroids, and more glitch-free while needing much, much less manual attention here than the current site. -- Webmaster

  *There may be some brief chaos when we take down the old site and put up the new. Please check back.
**You can still find the old files at the Internet Archive.

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 20 December '20

The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 55 listings

When last checked at 2358 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had 55 objects listed. Of these, 26 were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of 62 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 20 December '20

Minor Planet Electronic Circulars

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


MPEC 2020-Y62 - "15:32 UT" - 2020 VE7


MPEC 2020-Y61 - "15:24 UT" - 2020 YH1


MPEC 2020-Y60 - "15:23 UT" - 2020 YG1


MPEC 2020-Y59 - "15:02 UT" - 2020 YF1


MPEC 2020-Y58 - "15:00 UT" - 2020 YE1


MPEC 2020-Y57 - "14:58 UT" - 2020 YD1


<< DOU on 20 December '20 >>  MPEC 2020-Y56 - "12:30 UT" - Daily Orbit Update

Observers  on 20 December '20

A total of 27 observers appear in today's MPECs.

CodeObserver / observatory
U71AHS Obs., 1 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2016 YM
M46Althuraya Astronomy Ctr., 1 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 153201
H21Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield in Illinois, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y59 -- 2020 YF1
T08ATLAS Mauna Loa in Hawaii, 10 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 WA5, 2020 VC7, 2016 WG10, 2014 WG365, 2013 UX14, 2012 XE133, 505093, 501647, 21374, 138175
703Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 34 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 YE, 2020 PC5, 2020 OK5, 2020 OC8, 2016 TR54, 99907, 87684, 85709, 85275, 68359, 65717, 530938, 523633, 449107, 354663, 35107, 315098, 216707, 186822, 162173, 143678, 6569, 5879, 5587, 4953, 4947, 4055, 3199, 3122, 1980, 1943, 1685, 887, 433
V06Catalina Sky Survey Kuiper Telescope (CSS-Kuiper) in Arizona, 19 in MPECs 2020-Y56, 2020-Y57, 2020-Y58 & 2020-Y59 -- 2020 YT, 2020 YN, 2020 YK, 2020 YF1, 2020 YE1, 2020 YD1, 2020 XZ2, 2020 XY5, 2020 XW2, 2020 XU3, 2020 XQ, 2020 XO6, 2020 XL6, 2020 XK6, 2020 XF, 2020 XE6, 2020 XC6, 2020 XA5, 2020 UG2
K87Dettelbach Vineyard Obs. in Germany, 8 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 TA7, 2020 OK5, 2016 YM, 2016 OP5, 2013 UX14, 2012 XE133, 2003 YM1, 2003 YJ
113Drebach Obs. in Germany, 8 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 XY4, 2020 XN1, 2020 XL3, 2020 VC7, 2012 UK171, 501647, 275714, 6053
L34Galhassin Robotic Telescope, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 YG
J95Great Shefford Obs. in England, 6 in MPECs 2020-Y56, 2020-Y60 & 2020-Y61 -- 2020 YU, 2020 YH1, 2020 YG1, 2020 YG, 2020 YF, 2020 XY4
2461program code 1 via KLENOT in the Czech Republic, 3 in MPECs 2020-Y56, 2020-Y60 & 2020-Y61 -- 2020 YH1, 2020 YG1, 2020 XV6
W92MASTER OAFA Obs., 2 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 415029, 7753
B67Mirasteilas Obs. in Switzerland, 2 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2017 SE19, 2003 YJ
G96Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 32 in MPECs 2020-Y56, 2020-Y57, 2020-Y58, 2020-Y59, 2020-Y60, 2020-Y61 & 2020-Y62 -- 2020 YH1, 2020 YG1, 2020 YF1, 2020 YE1, 2020 YD1, 2020 XW, 2020 XK, 2020 XH, 2020 XG1, 2020 WX4, 2020 WQ3, 2020 WN3, 2020 VE7, 2020 RQ11, 2020 OJ8, 2020 FT1, 2019 BO1, 2018 GX4, 2014 YP15, 2011 QG9, 88188, 68267, 52689, 507355, 482228, 420048, 351370, 275792, 163902, 163683, 153195, 138175
Z80Northolt Branch Obs. in England, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 YU
F51Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) in Hawaii, 7 in MPECs 2020-Y56 & 2020-Y62 -- 2020 VE7, 2015 CA1, 2014 XF8, 2014 VH2, 2014 UZ116, 2014 UE57, 2014 UA33
H36Sandlot Obs. in Kansas, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y57 -- 2020 YD1
C95SATINO-1 in France, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 25916
0331program code 1 via Schwarzschild Obs. in Germany, 20 in MPECs 2020-Y56, 2020-Y57, 2020-Y58, 2020-Y59, 2020-Y60 & 2020-Y61 -- 2020 YL, 2020 YH1, 2020 YH, 2020 YG1, 2020 YG, 2020 YF1, 2020 YF, 2020 YE1, 2020 YD1, 2020 YC, 2020 YB, 2020 YA, 2020 XZ4, 2020 XY4, 2020 XY, 2020 XQ6, 2020 XJ3, 2020 XH6, 2020 XA3, 2018 XE4
G40!M. Kumrucu-Lohmiller in Massachusetts via Slooh.com Canary Islands Obs. in the Canary Islands, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 501647
691Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 6 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 VX5, 2020 QQ6, 2020 OS7, 2012 US9, 2007 UY1, 2007 SR1
291Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 2 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 WK, 2016 EU85
I52Steward Obs. Mt. Lemmon Station in Arizona, 46 in MPECs 2020-Y56, 2020-Y58, 2020-Y59, 2020-Y60 & 2020-Y61 -- 2020 YW, 2020 YV, 2020 YP, 2020 YM, 2020 YJ, 2020 YH1, 2020 YH, 2020 YG1, 2020 YF1, 2020 YF, 2020 YE1, 2020 YE, 2020 YD, 2020 YC, 2020 YB, 2020 XZ6, 2020 XY, 2020 XW5, 2020 XV6, 2020 XV4, 2020 XU6, 2020 XT4, 2020 XQ6, 2020 XP2, 2020 XO2, 2020 XN2, 2020 XN1, 2020 XK, 2020 XJ2, 2020 XH6, 2020 XH4, 2020 XG4, 2020 XG1, 2020 XF3, 2020 XD6, 2020 XD5, 2020 XD3, 2020 XC7, 2020 XC5, 2020 XC3, 2020 XB6, 2020 XA6, 2020 XA3, 2020 WM5, 2020 WH2, 2020 SO
A16Tentlingen Obs. in Switzerland, 4 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 TG4, 153201, 138947, 5836
T12UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up 2.24m Telescope in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 XU4
G33Wickede Obs. in Germany, 4 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2020 TG4, 415029, 275714, 163902
I41Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) in southern California, 4 in MPEC 2020-Y56 -- 2014 JH57, 31669, 252091, 7350
For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page.

Impact Risk Monitoring  on 20 December '20

Summary Risk Table for Risk Assessments Updated Today   (last checks: NEODyS at 2358 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 YE1NEODyS20002078-212034.75e-09-6.85-6.87n/aNEODyS: "Based on 23 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-18.494 to 2020-12-20.440."
2020 YB1NEODyS17002073-2120411.29e-05-5.88-6.41n/aNEODyS: "Based on 28 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-17.531 to 2020-12-19.963."
JPL Sentry06002064-2120221.37720382e-05-5.87-6.480JPL: Computed at 17:06 Dec. 19th Pacific time based on 28 observations spanning 2.4314 days (2020-Dec-17.530488 to 2020-Dec-19.96192). Diameter approximately 0.015 km. from weighted mean H=26.80.
2020 YA1NEODyS17002047-21131152.04e-05-5.74-6.640NEODyS: "Based on 27 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-17.405 to 2020-12-19.365."
2020 YNNEODyS20002046-205453.39e-05-5.33-5.350NEODyS: "Based on 29 optical observations (of which 2 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-17.253 to 2020-12-20.108."
JPL Sentry17002046-204748.4081335e-05-4.95-4.950JPL: Computed at 06:58 today Pacific time based on 27 observations spanning 2.8507 days (2020-Dec-17.25699 to 2020-Dec-20.107653). Diameter approximately 0.010 km. from weighted mean H=27.68.
2020 XV6JPL Sentry17002102-210224.214e-07-4.95-5.110JPL: Computed at 06:55 today Pacific time based on 88 observations spanning 4.9704 days (2020-Dec-15.120177 to 2020-Dec-20.090598). Diameter approximately 0.096 km. from weighted mean H=22.74.
2020 XU6NEODyS20002050-211772.53e-07-5.26-5.350NEODyS: "Based on 28 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-14.363 to 2020-12-20.230."
JPL Sentry17002034-2117558.680469e-07-4.55-5.220JPL: Computed at 06:54 today Pacific time based on 28 observations spanning 5.8671 days (2020-Dec-14.362132 to 2020-Dec-20.229271). Diameter approximately 0.175 km. from weighted mean H=21.43.
2020 XA6NEODyS20002062-207378.43e-07-5.36-5.610NEODyS: "Based on 79 optical observations (of which 2 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-14.125 to 2020-12-20.099."
JPL Sentry17002062-207342.5034e-06-4.87-5.240JPL: Computed at 06:56 today Pacific time based on 79 observations spanning 5.9744 days (2020-Dec-14.124162 to 2020-Dec-20.098552). Diameter approximately 0.052 km. from weighted mean H=24.05.
2020 XU4NEODyS20002101-212042.42e-06-7.41-7.41n/aNEODyS: "Based on 18 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-12.332 to 2020-12-16.535."
JPL Sentry17002112-211211.014e-06-7.78-7.780JPL: Computed at 06:35 today Pacific time based on 18 observations spanning 4.2037 days (2020-Dec-12.33093 to 2020-Dec-16.534676). Diameter approximately 0.009 km. from weighted mean H=27.84.
2020 XK1NEODyS17002070-2117125.55e-06-8.22-8.530NEODyS: "Based on 27 optical observations (of which 2 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-06.146 to 2020-12-08.287."
2020 XFNEODyS20002056-21205539.25e-04-4.07-4.26n/aNEODyS: "Based on 82 optical observations (of which 1 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-04.328 to 2020-12-20.082."
JPL Sentry17002056-21201290.000367628323-4.53-5.020JPL: Computed at 06:55 today Pacific time based on 82 observations spanning 15.754 days (2020-Dec-04.32683 to 2020-Dec-20.081268). Diameter approximately 0.016 km. from weighted mean H=26.69.
2019 YV1JPL Sentry06002101-211955.32e-06-5.79-6.200JPL: Computed at 06:39 Aug. 16th Pacific time based on 98 observations spanning 66.141 days (2019-Dec-21.11125 to 2020-Feb-25.252591). Diameter approximately 0.031 km. from weighted mean H=25.20.
2019 YMJPL Sentry06002041-211728.740287e-07-6.63-6.630JPL: Computed at 07:30 Oct. 8th Pacific time based on 31 observations spanning 2.2239 days (2019-Dec-19.09853 to 2019-Dec-21.322431). Diameter approximately 0.022 km. from weighted mean H=25.97.
2017 YO3JPL Sentry06002049-2067264.120445e-05-5.81-5.880JPL: Computed at 13:22 Dec. 25th of 2017 Pacific time based on 25 observations spanning 2.8852 days (2017-Dec-22.28665 to 2017-Dec-25.17181). Diameter approximately 0.008 km. from weighted mean H=28.20.
2016 AZ193JPL Sentry06002020-21144922.1894676e-06-6.20-7.150JPL: Computed at 14:28 April 6th of 2017 Pacific time based on 9 observations spanning .15930 days (2016-Jan-03.25638 to 2016-Jan-03.41568). Diameter approximately 0.016 km. from weighted mean H=26.62.
2015 XA378JPL Sentry06002092-2119225.197811e-05-4.60-4.830JPL: Computed at 08:15 Sept. 11th Pacific time based on 48 observations spanning 11.782 days (2015-Dec-06.456533 to 2015-Dec-18.23839) including radar (1 Doppler).. Diameter approximately 0.026 km. from weighted mean H=25.55.
2012 XM16JPL Sentry06002081-210742.401137e-06-6.09-6.170JPL: Computed at 07:59 April 23rd of 2019 Pacific time based on 58 observations spanning 7.1930 days (2012-Dec-06.28107 to 2012-Dec-13.474086). Diameter approximately 0.024 km. from weighted mean H=25.79.
2006 WM3JPL Sentry06002113-211315.826e-08-6.68-6.680JPL: Computed at 10:08 April 22nd of 2017 Pacific time based on 43 observations spanning 21.898 days (2006-Nov-20.22614 to 2006-Dec-12.124219). Diameter approximately 0.078 km. from weighted mean H=23.20.

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 20 December '20

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

2000Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XA6 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XF risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XU4 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XU6 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has posted 2020 YE1 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 YN risk assessment - see above
1700Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XA6 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XF risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XK1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XU4 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XU6 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XV6 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has posted 2020 YA1 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that NEODyS has posted 2020 YB1 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YN risk assessment - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y56 - Daily Orbit Update - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y57 - 2020 YD1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y58 - 2020 YE1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y59 - 2020 YF1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y60 - 2020 YG1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y61 - 2020 YH1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y62 - 2020 VE7 - see above
0600Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2006 WM3 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2012 XM16 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2015 XA378 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2016 AZ193 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2017 YO3 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2019 YM risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2019 YV1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2020 YB1 as an impact risk - see above