Contents on 29 December '20
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- 31 listings
- New MPECs -- four MPECs
- Observers -- 21 observers
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- six objects
- Chronology
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 will be some 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:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page
Of 1244 risk-listed objects, 137 have had news in the last 31 days. Updated at 2000 UTC on 29 Dec.
- Earth's Busy Neighborhood traffic page
- Ephemerides for risk-listed objects & close passers
- News archive (old) & news image catalog (discontinued)
- Object Links - mainly for radar targets & close passers (mostly discontinued)
- Observing Campaigns (old)
The latest A/CC news is available via framed access, 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 29 December '20
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 31 listings
When last checked at 2358 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had 31 objects listed. Of these, sixteen were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of 34 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 29 December '20
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2358 UTC, there have been four MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2020-Y151 time-stamped "04:20 UT" - 2020 RO9 - see below
- MPEC 2020-Y152 time-stamped "12:01 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2020-Y153 time-stamped "15:08 UT" - 2020 YY4 - see below
- MPEC 2020-Y154 time-stamped "20:15 UT" - 2020 YZ4
MPEC 2020-Y154 - "20:15 UT" - 2020 YZ4
- K20Y04Z 2020 YZ4 (small asteroid, Earth MOID=3.4 LD, H=27.26 ~12m) was picked up at 0404 UT on 27 Dec. by the Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS), observing it at Dec. 27.17-20p3. This detection was confirmed by Steward Obs. Mt. Lemmon Station (Dec. 27.38-39p4) and Visnjan Obs. (Dec. 27.74-76p4).
MPEC 2020-Y153 - "15:08 UT" - 2020 YY4
- K20Y04Y 2020 YY4 (H=20.7 ~245m) was picked up at 1426 UT on 24 Dec. by Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1), observing it at Dec. 24.60-63p4 at w=21.36-22.03. This detection was confirmed by the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Dec. 25.33-35p2) and Robert Holmes via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) (Dec. 28.27-28p3 & 29.27-29p3).
<< DOU on 29 December '20 >> MPEC 2020-Y152 - "12:01 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K20Y02G 2020 YG2 (small asteroid, Q=4.084 AU, arc=5 days, H=24.6 ~41m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 24.19-20p3 & 25.16-17p3)
- K20Y01A 2020 YA1 (small asteroid, arc=10 days, H=26.7 ~15m, close passer, NHATS target) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 26.15-17p3)
- K20X06V 2020 XV6 (small asteroid, q=0.185 AU, arc=7 days, H=22.7 ~98m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.12-13p3 & 20.11-12p3)
- 99942 99942 Apophis (2004 MN4) (NHATS target) from Southern Utsunomiya (Dec. 28.73-79p6)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K20X02V 2020 XV2 (small asteroid, Q=4.587 AU, arc=15 days, H=23.4 ~71m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.29p3)
- Observations of close-passing objects
- K20Y04M 2020 YM4 (arc=4 days, H=25.8 ~23m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 27.08-10p3)
- K20Y03G 2020 YG3 (arc=3 days, H=27.0 ~13m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 24.98-99p5)
- K20Y02L 2020 YL2 (arc=7 days, H=24.9 ~35m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 24.27-28p3)
- K20Y01J 2020 YJ1 (arc=6 days, H=23.9 ~56m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 24.21-23p3 & 25.18-19p3)
- K20X04V 2020 XV4 (arc=11 days, H=25.4 ~28m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.24-25p3)
- K20T12B 2020 TB12 (arc=73 days, H=21.7 ~155m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 24.11-12p3 & 25.10-11p3)
- Observation campaigns (NHATS targets, radar support)
- K20Y00C 2020 YC (arc=6 days, H=25.8 ~23m, NHATS) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.19p2)
- K20X02T 2020 XT2 (arc=29 days, H=24.6 ~41m, NHATS) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.23p3, 20.16p2 & 24.24-25p3)
-- NHATS target table - Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K20Y04V 2020 YV4 (arc=7 days, H=24.2 ~49m) from MLS (Dec. 21.39-40p3)
- K20Y04K 2020 YK4 (arc=6 days, H=24.9 ~35m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 26.89-91p3)
- K20Y04C 2020 YC4 (arc=4 days, H=24.8 ~37m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 27.01-03p3)
- K20Y03U 2020 YU3 (arc=2 days, H=23.5 ~68m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 24.86-87p3)
- K20Y03P 2020 YP3 (arc=3 days, H=24.2 ~49m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 24.82-83p2)
- K20Y02Z 2020 YZ2 (arc=5 days, H=24.5 ~43m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 25.21-22p3)
- K20Y00J 2020 YJ (arc=6 days, H=23.3 ~74m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.30-31p3)
- K20Y00E 2020 YE (Q=4.346 AU, arc=15 days, H=24.1 ~51m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.14-15p4)
- K20X06R 2020 XR6 (Q=4.385 AU, arc=6 days, H=22.9 ~89m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.25-27p3)
- K20X05E 2020 XE5 (arc=10 days, H=24.7 ~39m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.21-22p3)
- K20X04H 2020 XH4 (arc=12 days, H=23.2 ~78m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.20-21p3)
- K20X04G 2020 XG4 (arc=18 days, H=23.0 ~85m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.16-17p3, 20.18-19p2 & 24.13-14p3)
- K20X02P 2020 XP2 (arc=20 days, H=22.1 ~129m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 26.22-23p3)
- K20W05T 2020 WT5 (arc=24 days, H=22.1 ~129m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 24.16-17p3)
- K20W01Q 2020 WQ1 (arc=39 days, H=22.8 ~93m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.23-25p3)
- K20U08M 2020 UM8 (arc=62 days, H=25.1 ~32m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.28p2)
- K20T03G 2020 TG3 (Q=4.609 AU, arc=79 days, H=22.5 ~107m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 24.29-30p3)
- K20R06O 2020 RO6 (arc=104 days, H=22.6 ~102m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 25.08p3)
- K20Q05S 2020 QS5 (q=0.373 AU, Q=4.722 AU, arc=23 days, H=22.2 ~123m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Aug. 24.90-92p3)
- K12XD3E 2012 XE133 (arc=2 opp, H=23.3 ~74m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 25.03-04p5) and Northolt Branch Obs. (Dec. 27.85p3)
- K02E08W 2002 EW8 (arc=2 opp, H=23.8 ~59m) from UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up 2.24m Telescope (2017 April 21.29p1 at G=24.22)
- Observations of other objects
- K20Y04W 2020 YW4 (arc=6 days, H=20.1 ~323m) from MLS (Dec. 22.40-41p3)
- K20Y00S 2020 YS (arc=15 days, H=21.4 ~178m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.18-19p3)
- K20X07C 2020 XC7 (arc=7 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.09-10p3)
- K20X07A 2020 XA7 (arc=6 days, H=19.8 ~371m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.26-28p3)
- K20X05C 2020 XC5 (Q=4.123 AU, arc=13 days, H=20.9 ~224m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.15p3, 20.13-14p3 & 25.14-15p3)
- K20X03K 2020 XK3 (i=57.3°, arc=13 days, H=21.7 ~155m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.09-11p3)
- K20X01N 2020 XN1 (i=36.8°, Q=4.001 AU, arc=37 days, H=19.6 ~407m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 25.00-02p3)
- K20W05A 2020 WA5 (arc=33 days, H=21.5 ~170m) from Farra d'Isonzo Obs. (Dec. 28.95p2)
- K20U01L 2020 UL1 (arc=76 days, H=20.1 ~323m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.04-05p3 & 24.07-08p3)
- K20T07C 2020 TC7 (arc=67 days, H=19.6 ~407m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.04-05p3)
- K20T04G 2020 TG4 (Q=4.171 AU, arc=99 days, H=19.9 ~355m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 25.09-10p3) and Tentlingen Obs. (Dec. 27.07-10p3)
- K20R09O 2020 RO9 (Q=4.239 AU, arc=2 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from PS1 (2012 March 13.37-39p3 & 2012 March 28.32-33p2)
- K20R05Z 2020 RZ5 (arc=125 days, H=20.8 ~234m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.28-29p3)
- K20K03U 2020 KU3 (i=37.5°, Q=4.395 AU, arc=2 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.31-33p3)
- K17S19E 2017 SE19 (arc=3 opp, H=19.8 ~371m) from the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) (Dec. 28.14-18p3)
- K10X58X 2010 XX58 (q=0.305 AU, Q=4.172 AU, arc=3 opp, H=18.6 ~645m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 25.05-07p2)
- K03Y00J 2003 YJ (arc=4 opp, H=20.3 ~295m) from Muensterschwarzach Obs. (Dec. 28.88-89p4)
- J99V15X 1999 VX15 (Q=4.807 AU, arc=2 opp, H=18.7 ~616m) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.42-50p6)
- m2505 482505 2012 TQ78 from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 24.72-73p3)
- f4586 414586 2009 UV18 from PS1 (Dec. 28.31-35p4)
- R5611 275611 1999 XX262 from NEOWISE (Dec. 25.64p1, 25.90p1, 26.03p1, 26.30p2 & 26.36p1)
- I6822 186822 2004 FE31 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.35-37p4)
- G3902 163902 2003 SW222 from Brainerd Obs. (Dec. 26.03-04p3)
- G2186 162186 1999 OP3 from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 28.52-53p3 & 28.67p1)
- F4330 154330 2002 VX94 from Pan-STARRS 2 (PS2) (Dec. 28.25-29p3)
- D8095 138095 2000 DK79 from Tentlingen Obs. (Dec. 26.80-83p4)
- D7805 137805 1999 YK5 from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 28.24-26p4)
- 87684 87684 2000 SY2 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.26-28p4)
- 86450 86450 2000 CK33 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.52-54p4)
- 85709 85709 1998 SG36 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.64-66p4)
- 85275 85275 1994 LY from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.35-37p4)
- 68359 68359 2001 OZ13 from PS1 (Dec. 28.31-35p3)
- 65717 65717 1993 BX3 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.34-36p5) and Geyserland Obs. (Dec. 28.44-45p3)
- 36284 36284 2000 DM8 from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 24.74-75p3)
- 35107 35107 1991 VH from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.24-26p4)
- 34613 34613 2000 UR13 from SATINO-1 (2019 Dec. 25.13-16p5)
- 10115 10115 1992 SK from PS2 (Dec. 29.24-27p4)
- 07977 7977 1977 QQ5 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.22-24p4)
- 06053 6053 1993 BW3 from Tentlingen Obs. (Dec. 26.72-78p4) and ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 28.24-25p3)
- 05879 5879 Almeria (1992 CH1) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.52-54p4)
- 04953 4953 1990 MU from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.23-25p4)
- 04055 4055 Magellan (1985 DO2) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.33-35p4)
- 01980 1980 Tezcatlipoca (1950 LA) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.60-61p4)
- 01943 1943 Anteros (1973 EC) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.61-64p4)
- 01685 1685 Toro (1948 OA) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.61-64p4)
- 01036 1036 Ganymed (1924 TD) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.42-43p4) and Geyserland Obs. (Dec. 28.55p4)
- 00433 433 Eros (1898 DQ) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 28.64-66p4)
MPEC 2020-Y151 - "04:20 UT" - 2020 RO9
- K20R09O 2020 RO9 (Q=4.239 AU, H=18.4 ~708m) from MLS (2011 Dec. 25.47-49p4 at V=21.6-22.7 & 2012 March 1.29-31p4 at V=20.1-21.3)
Observers on 29 December '20
A total of 21 observers appear in today's MPECs.
Code | Observer / observatory |
---|---|
T05 | ATLAS Haleakala in Hawaii, 3 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 162186, 137805, 6053 |
T08 | ATLAS Mauna Loa in Hawaii, 17 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 1999 VX15, 87684, 86450, 85709, 85275, 65717, 35107, 186822, 7977, 5879, 4953, 4055, 1980, 1943, 1685, 1036, 433 |
726 | Brainerd Obs. in Minnesota, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 163902 |
703 | Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 2017 SE19 |
807| | Robert Holmes in Illinois via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) in Chile, 31 in MPECs 2020-Y152 & 2020-Y153 -- 2020 YZ2, 2020 YY4, 2020 YS, 2020 YL2, 2020 YJ1, 2020 YJ, 2020 YG2, 2020 YE, 2020 YC, 2020 XV6, 2020 XV4, 2020 XV2, 2020 XT2, 2020 XR6, 2020 XK3, 2020 XH4, 2020 XG4, 2020 XE5, 2020 XC7, 2020 XC5, 2020 XA7, 2020 WT5, 2020 WQ1, 2020 UM8, 2020 UL1, 2020 TG3, 2020 TC7, 2020 TB12, 2020 RZ5, 2020 RO6, 2020 KU3 |
595 | Farra d'Isonzo Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 2020 WA5 |
E89 | Geyserland Obs. in New Zealand, 2 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 65717, 1036 |
G96 | Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 4 in MPECs 2020-Y151, 2020-Y152 & 2020-Y154 -- 2020 YZ4, 2020 YW4, 2020 YV4, 2020 RO9 |
K74 | Muensterschwarzach Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 2003 YJ |
C51 | NEOWISE in Earth polar orbit, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 275611 |
Z80 | Northolt Branch Obs. in England, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 2012 XE133 |
F51 | Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) in Hawaii, 4 in MPECs 2020-Y152 & 2020-Y153 -- 2020 YY4, 2020 RO9, 68359, 414586 |
F52 | Pan-STARRS 2 (PS2) in Hawaii, 2 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 154330, 10115 |
C95 | SATINO-1 in France, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 34613 |
204 | Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 15 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 2020 YU3, 2020 YP3, 2020 YM4, 2020 YK4, 2020 YG3, 2020 YC4, 2020 YA1, 2020 XP2, 2020 XN1, 2020 TG4, 2020 QS5, 2012 XE133, 2010 XX58, 482505, 36284 |
Q21 | Southern Utsunomiya in Japan, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 99942 |
291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y153 -- 2020 YY4 |
I52 | Steward Obs. Mt. Lemmon Station in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y154 -- 2020 YZ4 |
A16 | Tentlingen Obs. in Switzerland, 3 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 2020 TG4, 138095, 6053 |
T12 | UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up 2.24m Telescope in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y152 -- 2002 EW8 |
L01 | Visnjan Obs. in Croatia, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y154 -- 2020 YZ4 |
For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 29 December '20
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 YG2 | NEODyS | 2000 | 2097-2109 | 3 | 5.71e-07 | -6.34 | -6.45 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 39 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-20.194 to 2020-12-25.168." |
JPL Sentry | 1700 | 2097-2109 | 2 | 3.78103e-07 | -6.52 | -6.53 | 0 | JPL: Computed at 05:44 today Pacific time based on 39 observations spanning 4.9748 days (2020-Dec-20.19277 to 2020-Dec-25.1676). Diameter approximately 0.040 km. from weighted mean H=24.64. | |
2020 YA1 | NEODyS | 2000 | 2103-2110 | 2 | 1.12e-06 | -7.29 | -7.36 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 62 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-17.405 to 2020-12-27.452." |
JPL Sentry | 1700 | 2103-2113 | 4 | 3.0198e-06 | -6.85 | -7.02 | 0 | JPL: Computed at 06:13 today Pacific time based on 62 observations spanning 10.047 days (2020-Dec-17.404234 to 2020-Dec-27.451476). Diameter approximately 0.015 km. from weighted mean H=26.75. | |
2020 XV6 | NEODyS | 2000 | 2099-2105 | 5 | 9.45e-07 | -4.59 | -4.93 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 100 optical observations (of which 1 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-15.121 to 2020-12-22.170." |
JPL Sentry | 1700 | 2099-2102 | 3 | 6.118e-07 | -4.76 | -5.06 | 0 | JPL: Computed at 05:51 today Pacific time based on 100 observations spanning 7.0493 days (2020-Dec-15.120177 to 2020-Dec-22.169524). Diameter approximately 0.097 km. from weighted mean H=22.70. | |
2020 VV | JPL Sentry | 2000 | 2044-2120 | 151 | 0.002266053662 | -3.88 | -4.36 | 0 | JPL: Computed at 11:17 today Pacific time based on 79 observations spanning 61.112 days (2020-Oct-17.214515 to 2020-Dec-17.326949). Diameter approximately 0.012 km. from weighted mean H=27.27. |
2011 CL50 | JPL Sentry | 1807 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 1642 UTC Dec. 27th | |||||
2008 EA9 | JPL Sentry | 1700 | 2068-2106 | 6 | 2.30722e-05 | -6.26 | -6.66 | 0 | JPL: Computed at 13:14 April 7th of 2017 Pacific time based on 56 observations spanning 27.860 days (2008-Mar-06.40551 to 2008-Apr-03.26595). Diameter approximately 0.010 km. from weighted mean H=27.73. |
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 29 December '20
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
2105 | Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y154 - 2020 YZ4 - see above |
2000 | Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 VV risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XV6 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 YA1 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 YG2 risk assessment - see above |
1807 | Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2011 CL50 as an impact risk - see above |
1700 | Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 EA9 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 YA1 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YG2 risk assessment - see above Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y152 - Daily Orbit Update - see above Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y153 - 2020 YY4 - see above |
0600 | Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y151 - 2020 RO9 - see above |