Contents  on 21 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 21 December '20

The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 45 listings

When last checked at 2358 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had 45 objects listed. Of these, 22 were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of 73 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 21 December '20

Minor Planet Electronic Circulars

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


MPEC 2020-Y80 - "23:13 UT" - 2020 YE2


MPEC 2020-Y79 - "18:51 UT" - 2020 YB2


MPEC 2020-Y78 - "18:47 UT" - 2020 YA2


MPEC 2020-Y77 - "18:45 UT" - 2020 YZ1


MPEC 2020-Y76 - "17:30 UT" - 2020 XD7


MPEC 2020-Y75 - "13:51 UT" - 2020 YV1


MPEC 2020-Y74 - "13:49 UT" - 2020 YU1


MPEC 2020-Y73 - "13:25 UT" - 2020 YS1


MPEC 2020-Y72 - "13:18 UT" - 2020 YR1


MPEC 2020-Y71 - "13:16 UT" - 2020 YQ1


MPEC 2020-Y70 - "13:15 UT" - 2020 YP1


MPEC 2020-Y69 - "13:14 UT" - 2020 YO1


MPEC 2020-Y68 - "13:12 UT" - 2020 YN1


MPEC 2020-Y67 - "13:11 UT" - 2020 YM1


MPEC 2020-Y66 - "13:10 UT" - 2020 YL1


<< DOU on 21 December '20 >>  MPEC 2020-Y65 - "12:31 UT" - Daily Orbit Update


MPEC 2020-Y64 - "04:37 UT" - 2020 YK1


MPEC 2020-Y63 - "04:36 UT" - 2020 YJ1

Observers  on 21 December '20

A total of 29 observers appear in today's MPECs.

CodeObserver / observatory
U71AHS Obs., 2 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 89355, 501647
H21Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield in Illinois, 2 in MPECs 2020-Y64 & 2020-Y78 -- 2020 YK1, 2020 YA2
T08ATLAS Mauna Loa in Hawaii, 6 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 87684, 65717, 418849, 35107, 177651, 154302
G17BAS Obs., 4 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 2003 YJ, 275714, 6053, 4503
703Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 27 in MPECs 2020-Y63, 2020-Y65 & 2020-Y73 -- 2020 YS1, 2020 YJ1, 2020 XZ4, 2020 XP2, 2020 WM5, 2020 WA5, 2020 VC7, 2020 RU, 2019 BO1, 2012 XE133, 2004 AC, 2002 GZ8, 99935, 90147, 53435, 501647, 465749, 438902, 428086, 380359, 307493, 276409, 21374, 159402, 154330, 138175, 1580
V06Catalina Sky Survey Kuiper Telescope (CSS-Kuiper) in Arizona, 20 in MPECs 2020-Y64, 2020-Y65, 2020-Y67, 2020-Y72, 2020-Y74, 2020-Y75, 2020-Y76 & 2020-Y79 -- 2020 YV1, 2020 YU1, 2020 YR1, 2020 YM1, 2020 YK1, 2020 YK, 2020 YB2, 2020 XW6, 2020 XS, 2020 XR3, 2020 XR2, 2020 XQ3, 2020 XJ, 2020 XG6, 2020 XG5, 2020 XF, 2020 XD7, 2020 XD2, 2020 UD, 2020 SK18
Z99Clixby Obs. in England, 4 in MPECs 2020-Y65 & 2020-Y68 -- 2020 YW, 2020 YN1, 2020 YB, 2020 XH6
113Drebach Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y63 -- 2020 YJ1
J95Great Shefford Obs. in England, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y63 -- 2020 YJ1
U68JPL SynTrack Robotic Telescope, 2 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 2020 XQ6, 501647
1861program code 1 via Kitab Obs., 1 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 159402
2461program code 1 via KLENOT in the Czech Republic, 6 in MPECs 2020-Y63, 2020-Y66, 2020-Y69, 2020-Y70, 2020-Y71 & 2020-Y80 -- 2020 YQ1, 2020 YP1, 2020 YO1, 2020 YL1, 2020 YJ1, 2020 YE2
W92MASTER OAFA Obs., 1 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 7753
G96Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 71 in MPECs 2020-Y64, 2020-Y65, 2020-Y66, 2020-Y67, 2020-Y68, 2020-Y69, 2020-Y70, 2020-Y71, 2020-Y72, 2020-Y73, 2020-Y74, 2020-Y75, 2020-Y76, 2020-Y77, 2020-Y78, 2020-Y79 & 2020-Y80 -- 2020 YZ1, 2020 YV1, 2020 YU1, 2020 YS1, 2020 YR1, 2020 YQ1, 2020 YP1, 2020 YO1, 2020 YN1, 2020 YM1, 2020 YL1, 2020 YK1, 2020 YE2, 2020 YB2, 2020 YA2, 2020 XY5, 2020 XV4, 2020 XD7, 2020 WH2, 2020 WF3, 2020 WA6, 2020 VX1, 2020 VQ3, 2020 MZ3, 2020 LD3, 2015 OH, 2015 BF4, 2014 LQ26, 2012 LD1, 2011 GD60, 2006 RJ1, 2004 QC17, 2004 LU3, 2003 YS17, 2003 MS2, 2001 YV3, 99799, 88264, 53319, 513125, 510073, 500080, 497094, 496326, 496001, 495891, 467963, 450263, 435404, 434632, 414586, 404108, 378124, 373579, 355046, 322763, 313809, 276703, 275714, 19764, 190208, 17182, 162781, 142348, 141354, 137805, 8567, 7480, 4503, 3671, 1862
Z80Northolt Branch Obs. in England, 10 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 2020 YU, 2020 XY4, 2020 TG4, 2012 XE133, 2002 TS67, 2002 GZ8, 90147, 501647, 275714, 163902
F51Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) in Hawaii, 2 in MPECs 2020-Y65 & 2020-Y76 -- 2020 XD7, 2013 BD18
H36Sandlot Obs. in Kansas, 4 in MPECs 2020-Y66, 2020-Y70, 2020-Y71 & 2020-Y72 -- 2020 YR1, 2020 YQ1, 2020 YP1, 2020 YL1
C95SATINO-1 in France, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 26166
204Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 10 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 2020 YF, 2020 YD, 2020 XX3, 2020 XQ2, 2020 XO, 2020 XN, 2020 XB3, 2020 WZ5, 2020 WA5, 2020 MO
0331program code 1 via Schwarzschild Obs. in Germany, 19 in MPECs 2020-Y63, 2020-Y64, 2020-Y65, 2020-Y66, 2020-Y67, 2020-Y68, 2020-Y69, 2020-Y70, 2020-Y71, 2020-Y72, 2020-Y73, 2020-Y74, 2020-Y75 & 2020-Y80 -- 2020 YW, 2020 YV1, 2020 YU1, 2020 YS1, 2020 YR1, 2020 YQ1, 2020 YP1, 2020 YO1, 2020 YN1, 2020 YM1, 2020 YL1, 2020 YK1, 2020 YJ1, 2020 YE2, 2020 YB1, 2020 YA1, 2020 XZ4, 2020 XJ3, 2020 XH6
Q21Southern Utsunomiya in Japan, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 2002 GZ8
691Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 7 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 2020 XV4, 2020 XJ, 2020 WF3, 2020 WD1, 2020 VX1, 2020 OC7, 2016 JU33
291Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 3 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 2020 XS, 2020 WZ4, 2007 US12
I52Steward Obs. Mt. Lemmon Station in Arizona, 38 in MPECs 2020-Y63, 2020-Y65, 2020-Y66, 2020-Y68, 2020-Y69, 2020-Y70, 2020-Y71, 2020-Y72, 2020-Y73, 2020-Y74, 2020-Y75, 2020-Y77, 2020-Y78, 2020-Y79 & 2020-Y80 -- 2020 YZ1, 2020 YW, 2020 YV1, 2020 YV, 2020 YU1, 2020 YS1, 2020 YR1, 2020 YQ1, 2020 YP1, 2020 YO1, 2020 YN1, 2020 YL1, 2020 YJ1, 2020 YJ, 2020 YF, 2020 YE2, 2020 YE, 2020 YC, 2020 YB2, 2020 YB, 2020 YA2, 2020 YA1, 2020 XZ4, 2020 XZ3, 2020 XY4, 2020 XV6, 2020 XU6, 2020 XS2, 2020 XQ6, 2020 XL5, 2020 XL3, 2020 XK3, 2020 XH3, 2020 XF3, 2020 XC5, 2020 XA6, 2020 WV5, 2020 SO
J22Tacande Obs. in the Canary Islands, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 501647
858Tebbutt Obs. in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y68 -- 2020 YN1
L01Visnjan Obs. in Croatia, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y63 -- 2020 YJ1
G33Wickede Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 6053
I41Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) in southern California, 4 in MPEC 2020-Y65 -- 2020 YU, 2014 JH57, 31669, 152931
For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page.

Impact Risk Monitoring  on 21 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 YA2JPL Sentry22002111-2120121.339604e-05-6.89-7.350JPL: Computed at 12:23 today Pacific time based on 14 observations spanning .90040 days (2020-Dec-20.24009 to 2020-Dec-21.140493). Diameter approximately 0.008 km. from weighted mean H=28.18.
2020 YM1JPL Sentry17402091-2119187.399411e-05-6.81-7.160JPL: Computed at 06:56 today Pacific time based on 15 observations spanning 1.7688 days (2020-Dec-19.434187 to 2020-Dec-21.20299). Diameter approximately 0.004 km. from weighted mean H=29.64.
2020 YL1NEODyS19102033-2120532.45e-07-3.90-4.5n/aNEODyS: "Based on 31 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-19.376 to 2020-12-21.332."
JPL Sentry17402033-2120704.288334e-07-3.70-4.390JPL: Computed at 06:39 today Pacific time based on 31 observations spanning 1.9561 days (2020-Dec-19.375273 to 2020-Dec-21.331401). Diameter approximately 0.260 km. from weighted mean H=20.58.
2020 YB1NEODyS19102073-2120481.94e-05-5.71-6.19n/aNEODyS: "Based on 33 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-17.531 to 2020-12-21.229."
JPL Sentry17402064-2120171.615004e-05-5.81-6.280JPL: Computed at 07:03 today Pacific time based on 33 observations spanning 3.6972 days (2020-Dec-17.530488 to 2020-Dec-21.22773). Diameter approximately 0.014 km. from weighted mean H=26.89.
2020 YA1JPL Sentry17402058-211393.489134e-06-6.77-6.990JPL: Computed at 07:11 today Pacific time based on 34 observations spanning 3.9860 days (2020-Dec-17.404234 to 2020-Dec-21.390251). Diameter approximately 0.015 km. from weighted mean H=26.74.
2020 XV6NEODyS19102099-210579.7e-07-4.60-4.950NEODyS: "Based on 90 optical observations (of which 1 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-15.121 to 2020-12-21.166."
JPL Sentry17402102-210224.255e-07-4.95-5.110JPL: Computed at 07:05 today Pacific time based on 90 observations spanning 6.0453 days (2020-Dec-15.120177 to 2020-Dec-21.165479). Diameter approximately 0.095 km. from weighted mean H=22.75.
2020 XU6NEODyS19102057-211741.26e-08-6.47-6.740NEODyS: "Based on 32 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-14.363 to 2020-12-21.317."
JPL Sentry17402047-2117315.118936e-07-4.74-5.200JPL: Computed at 07:04 today Pacific time based on 32 observations spanning 6.9544 days (2020-Dec-14.362132 to 2020-Dec-21.316497). Diameter approximately 0.171 km. from weighted mean H=21.46.
2020 XA6JPL Sentry17402057-207352.08493e-06-4.95-5.380JPL: Computed at 07:02 today Pacific time based on 83 observations spanning 7.0565 days (2020-Dec-14.124162 to 2020-Dec-21.180706). Diameter approximately 0.052 km. from weighted mean H=24.07.
2020 XU4JPL Sentry17402112-211211.010e-06-7.78-7.780JPL: Computed at 09:04 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 XX3JPL Sentry17402094-209412.459e-07-8.65-8.650JPL: Computed at 07:29 today Pacific time based on 99 observations spanning 7.6837 days (2020-Dec-10.276407 to 2020-Dec-17.960095). Diameter approximately 0.007 km. from weighted mean H=28.47.
2020 XFNEODyS19102056-21205491.22e-03-3.94-4.08n/aNEODyS: "Based on 86 optical observations (of which 1 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-04.328 to 2020-12-21.117."
JPL Sentry17402056-21191280.00036792222-4.53-5.020JPL: Computed at 07:02 today Pacific time based on 86 observations spanning 16.790 days (2020-Dec-04.32683 to 2020-Dec-21.116554). Diameter approximately 0.015 km. from weighted mean H=26.70.
2020 VWJPL Sentry18002074-2087150.0070404163963-3.84-4.120JPL: Computed at 09:41 today Pacific time based on 20 observations spanning 14.900 days (2020-Nov-03.303834 to 2020-Nov-18.203395). Diameter approximately 0.007 km. from weighted mean H=28.32.
2020 VVJPL Sentry18002044-21111080.001787460372-3.99-4.370JPL: Computed at 09:43 today Pacific time based on 76 observations spanning 61.112 days (2020-Oct-17.214515 to 2020-Dec-17.326949). Diameter approximately 0.012 km. from weighted mean H=27.25.
2016 YC13JPL Sentry17402087-211672.12266e-08-8.63-8.730JPL: Computed at 18:09 April 9th of 2017 Pacific time based on 19 observations spanning .11002 days (2016-Dec-27.28622 to 2016-Dec-27.396239). Diameter approximately 0.016 km. from weighted mean H=26.68.

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 21 December '20

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

2320Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y80 - 2020 YE2 - see above
2200Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2020 YA2 as an impact risk - see above
1910Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XF risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XU6 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XV6 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 YB1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has posted 2020 YL1 as an impact risk - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y77 - 2020 YZ1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y78 - 2020 YA2 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y79 - 2020 YB2 - see above
1800Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 VV risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 VW risk assessment - see above
1740Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2016 YC13 risk assessment - see above
Noted 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 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 JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XX3 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YA1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YB1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2020 YL1 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2020 YM1 as an impact risk - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y65 - Daily Orbit Update - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y66 - 2020 YL1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y67 - 2020 YM1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y68 - 2020 YN1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y69 - 2020 YO1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y70 - 2020 YP1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y71 - 2020 YQ1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y72 - 2020 YR1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y73 - 2020 YS1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y74 - 2020 YU1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y75 - 2020 YV1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y76 - 2020 XD7 - see above
0600Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y63 - 2020 YJ1 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y64 - 2020 YK1 - see above