Contents on 30 December '20
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- 29 listings
- New MPECs -- three MPECs
- Observers -- 22 observers
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- four objects
- Chronology
LAST EDITION: This today will be the final edition of The Tracking News, ending daily news coverage since September 2007. We will also stop the Consolidated Risk Tables, published since September 2003. This Web site will continue with Earth's Busy Neighborhood and supporting features, including a new ephemerides page and some new graphics we have in preparation to help inform the general public about the discovery and tracking of nearby asteroid traffic.
Asteroid/Comet Connection (A/CC) Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page
Of 1245 risk-listed objects, 137 have had news in the last 31 days. Updated at 1813 UTC on 30 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 30 December '20
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 29 listings
When last checked at 2358 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had 29 objects listed. Of these, fourteen were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of 32 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 30 December '20
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2358 UTC, there have been three MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2020-Y155 time-stamped "01:53 UT" - 2020 YA5 - see below
- MPEC 2020-Y156 time-stamped "02:03 UT" - 2020 YB5 - see below
- MPEC 2020-Y157 time-stamped "12:01 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
<< DOU on 30 December '20 >> MPEC 2020-Y157 - "12:01 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K20X07B 2020 XB7 (small asteroid, arc=4 days, H=24.2 ~49m, close passer) from Robert Holmes via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) (Dec. 19.13-14p2)
- K20X05K 2020 XK5 (small asteroid, Q=4.102 AU, arc=7 days, H=23.7 ~62m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.21-22p3 at G=22.3)
- Observations of close-passing objects
- K20Y02J 2020 YJ2 (arc=1 day, H=27.3 ~12m) from Hidetaka Sato via iTelescope Obs. Mayhill (Dec. 22.10p3)
- K20W04Z 2020 WZ4 (arc=34 days, H=24.3 ~47m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.15-17p3 at G=22.1-2 & 20.18-19p3 at G=22.3)
- K15T25C 2015 TC25 (arc=2 opp, H=29.3 ~5m, NHATS target) from UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up 2.24m Telescope (2017 April 21.41p1 at G=24.90)
- Observation campaigns (NHATS targets, radar support)
- K20X01D 2020 XD1 (arc=13 days, H=27.1 ~13m, NHATS) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.23p2)
- f8849 418849 2008 WM64 (radar) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.25-28p7)
- 04179 4179 Toutatis (1989 AC) (radar) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.21-23p3) and Drebach Obs. (Dec. 29.81p3)
-- NHATS target table -- Planetary radar schedules: Arecibo & Goldstone - Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K20Y04B 2020 YB4 (arc=7 days, H=24.9 ~35m) from Great Shefford Obs. (Dec. 29.96-99p3)
- K20Y02Y 2020 YY2 (arc=9 days, H=22.4 ~112m) from Great Shefford Obs. (Dec. 29.88-90p4)
- K20Y00V 2020 YV (arc=8 days, H=25.0 ~34m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 25.18-19p3)
- K20X06F 2020 XF6 (arc=11 days, H=22.4 ~112m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.32-33p3 at G=22.0-22.1 & 20.31p3 at G=21.9)
- K20X05A 2020 XA5 (arc=11 days, H=24.3 ~47m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.20p3 & 20.21-22p3)
- K20X03U 2020 XU3 (arc=17 days, H=22.3 ~117m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 25.15-17p3)
- K20W03O 2020 WO3 (arc=44 days, H=23.0 ~85m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.08-09p3 at G=22.0-22.2, 20.04-06p3 at G=22.2 & 24.08-10p3 at G=22.1-2)
- K20W03E 2020 WE3 (arc=29 days, H=25.2 ~31m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.23-24p3 at G=22.2-3)
- K20U02J 2020 UJ2 (Q=4.033 AU, arc=64 days, H=23.8 ~59m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.25-28p3 at G=22.6)
- K20O04E 2020 OE4 (arc=148 days, H=22.4 ~112m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.26-29p3 at G=23.0-1)
- K11Q02T 2011 QT2 (Q=4.225 AU, arc=140 days, H=22.5 ~107m) from Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) (2011 May 29.40-42p2 & 2011 Oct. 16.44-45p2)
- Observations of other objects
- K20X05M 2020 XM5 (arc=9 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.31p3 at G=22.3-4 & 20.29-30p3 at G=22.0-22.1)
- K20X04D 2020 XD4 (i=38.9°, arc=14 days, H=20.2 ~309m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.18-19p3 at G=22.0-22.2)
- K20X03K 2020 XK3 (i=57.3°, arc=16 days, H=21.7 ~155m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 25.12-13p3)
- K20W05S 2020 WS5 (i=40.9°, Q=4.060 AU, arc=33 days, H=20.7 ~245m) from Great Shefford Obs. (Dec. 29.92-94p3)
- K20W05B 2020 WB5 (arc=32 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.34-35p3 at G=22.0 & 20.32-33p3 at G=22.1-2)
- K20W05A 2020 WA5 (arc=34 days, H=21.6 ~162m) from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.53-55p4)
- K20W00W 2020 WW (arc=34 days, H=21.1 ~204m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.07-08p3 at G=22.2-3)
- K20V05C 2020 VC5 (i=42.6°, Q=4.252 AU, arc=36 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.10-11p3 at G=22.0-22.1)
- K20U02G 2020 UG2 (arc=64 days, H=21.5 ~170m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 19.12-13p3)
- K20U01L 2020 UL1 (arc=77 days, H=20.1 ~323m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 25.08p3)
- K20T05H 2020 TH5 (arc=73 days, H=21.1 ~204m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 25.09-10p3)
- K20Q06K 2020 QK6 (arc=116 days, H=20.8 ~234m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.34-35p3 at G=22.3-4)
- K20Q02Z 2020 QZ2 (Q=4.239 AU, arc=134 days, H=20.7 ~245m) from Holmes/CTIO (Dec. 20.11-14p3 at G=22.3-4)
- K03Y00J 2003 YJ (arc=4 opp, H=20.4 ~282m) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.32-34p4)
- J99V15X 1999 VX15 (Q=4.807 AU, arc=2 opp, H=18.7 ~616m) from Pan-STARRS 2 (PS2) (Dec. 29.39-41p4)
- m1817 481817 2008 UL90 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.21-23p4)
- k5749 465749 2009 WO6 from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.57-59p4) and Northolt Branch Obs. (Dec. 30.00-01p3)
- h8902 438902 2009 WF104 from Northolt Branch Obs. (Dec. 29.99p3)
- f7217 417217 2005 YS from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.32-34p4)
- f6694 416694 2004 YR32 from MASTER IAC Obs. (Dec. 29.11p1, 29.15-17p2 & 29.21p1), ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.51-54p4), PS2 (Dec. 29.63-66p3), and Northolt Branch Obs. (Dec. 29.97-98p3)
- V3276 313276 2002 AX1 from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.56-57p4)
- R5714 275714 2000 YH4 from Drebach Obs. (Dec. 29.78-79p3)
- I6822 186822 2004 FE31 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.32-34p4)
- G2186 162186 1999 OP3 from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.48-50p4)
- F9402 159402 1999 AP10 from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.47-49p4) and program code 1 via Kuban State Univ. Obs. (Dec. 29.84-93p73)
- F4330 154330 2002 VX94 from PS2 (Dec. 29.29-31p4, 29.36-38p4 & 30.21-24p4) and PS1 (Dec. 29.40-42p3)
- F2978 152978 2000 GJ147 from PS2 (Dec. 29.29-31p3) and PS1 (Dec. 29.37-39p3)
- D8095 138095 2000 DK79 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.20-23p4)
- 90147 90147 2002 YK14 from Kuban State Univ. Obs./code 1 (Dec. 29.70-82p26)
- 85275 85275 1994 LY from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.32-34p4)
- 53435 53435 1999 VM40 from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.47-49p4)
- 36183 36183 1999 TX16 from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.21-23p4)
- 35107 35107 1991 VH from SATINO-1 (2019 Feb. 16.17p3)
- 21374 21374 1997 WS22 from ATLAS Haleakala (Dec. 29.47-52p5)
- 06053 6053 1993 BW3 from Drebach Obs. (Dec. 29.80p4)
- 04953 4953 1990 MU from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.20-22p3)
- 04055 4055 Magellan (1985 DO2) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.32-34p4)
- 03908 3908 Nyx (1980 PA) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.24-27p4)
- 01036 1036 Ganymed (1924 TD) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.39p2, 29.47p1 & 29.53p1)
- 00887 887 Alinda (1918 DB) from ATLAS Mauna Loa (Dec. 29.23-27p4)
MPEC 2020-Y156 - "02:03 UT" - 2020 YB5
- K20Y05B 2020 YB5 (risk listed, Earth MOID=0.2 LD, H=25.3 ~29m) was picked up at 1025 UT on 26 Dec. by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), observing it at Dec. 26.43-45p4. This detection was confirmed by Steward Obs. Mt. Lemmon Station (Dec. 26.55p4 & 27.45p4), Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 26.93-95p3), Visnjan Obs. (Dec. 26.97-98p5), Farra d'Isonzo Obs. (Dec. 27.03-04p3), and Great Shefford Obs. (Dec. 30.01-02p2).
MPEC 2020-Y155 - "01:53 UT" - 2020 YA5
- K20Y05A 2020 YA5 (small asteroid, Earth MOID=6.2 LD, H=24.3 ~47m) was picked up at 1242 UT on 29 Dec. by ATLAS Haleakala, observing it at Dec. 29.53-58p8. This detection was confirmed by CSS (Dec. 26.49-50p2), Drebach Obs. (Dec. 29.82-84p5), Xingming Obs. #3 (Dec. 29.82-83p5), Great Shefford Obs. (Dec. 29.83-86p4), ROASTERR-1 (Dec. 29.87-88p3), Muensterschwarzach Obs. (Dec. 29.88-93p6), Hoyerswerda Obs. (Dec. 29.92-93p5), and Northolt Branch Obs. (Dec. 29.95-96p2).
Observers on 30 December '20
A total of 22 observers appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| T05 | ATLAS Haleakala in Hawaii, 10 in MPECs 2020-Y155 & 2020-Y157 -- 2020 YA5, 2020 WA5, 53435, 465749, 417217, 416694, 313276, 21374, 162186, 159402 |
| T08 | ATLAS Mauna Loa in Hawaii, 13 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 2003 YJ, 85275, 481817, 418849, 36183, 186822, 138095, 4953, 4179, 4055, 3908, 1036, 887 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 2 in MPECs 2020-Y155 & 2020-Y156 -- 2020 YB5, 2020 YA5 |
| 807| | Robert Holmes in Illinois via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) in Chile, 23 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 2020 YV, 2020 XU3, 2020 XM5, 2020 XK5, 2020 XK3, 2020 XF6, 2020 XD4, 2020 XD1, 2020 XB7, 2020 XA5, 2020 WZ4, 2020 WW, 2020 WO3, 2020 WE3, 2020 WB5, 2020 VC5, 2020 UL1, 2020 UJ2, 2020 UG2, 2020 TH5, 2020 QZ2, 2020 QK6, 2020 OE4 |
| 113 | Drebach Obs. in Germany, 4 in MPECs 2020-Y155 & 2020-Y157 -- 2020 YA5, 275714, 6053, 4179 |
| 595 | Farra d'Isonzo Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y156 -- 2020 YB5 |
| J95 | Great Shefford Obs. in England, 5 in MPECs 2020-Y155, 2020-Y156 & 2020-Y157 -- 2020 YY2, 2020 YB5, 2020 YB4, 2020 YA5, 2020 WS5 |
| C43 | Hoyerswerda Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y155 -- 2020 YA5 |
| H06| | Hidetaka Sato in Japan via iTelescope Obs. Mayhill in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 2020 YJ2 |
| C401 | program code 1 via Kuban State Univ. Obs. in Russia, 2 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 90147, 159402 |
| Z22 | MASTER IAC Obs. in the Canary Islands, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 416694 |
| K74 | Muensterschwarzach Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y155 -- 2020 YA5 |
| Z80 | Northolt Branch Obs. in England, 4 in MPECs 2020-Y155 & 2020-Y157 -- 2020 YA5, 465749, 438902, 416694 |
| F51 | Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) in Hawaii, 3 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 2011 QT2, 154330, 152978 |
| F52 | Pan-STARRS 2 (PS2) in Hawaii, 4 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 1999 VX15, 416694, 154330, 152978 |
| L04 | ROASTERR-1 in Romania, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y155 -- 2020 YA5 |
| C95 | SATINO-1 in France, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 35107 |
| 204 | Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y156 -- 2020 YB5 |
| I52 | Steward Obs. Mt. Lemmon Station in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y156 -- 2020 YB5 |
| T12 | UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up 2.24m Telescope in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y157 -- 2015 TC25 |
| L01 | Visnjan Obs. in Croatia, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y156 -- 2020 YB5 |
| N88 | Xingming Obs. #3, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y155 -- 2020 YA5 |
| For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. | |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 30 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 YB5 | NEODyS | 1700 | 2049-2121 | 149 | 5.2e-05 | -4.80 | -5.55 | n/a | NEODyS: "Based on 25 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-26.435 to 2020-12-30.021." |
| JPL Sentry | 0602 | 2061-2120 | 53 | 0.0002027163 | -4.20 | -5.04 | 0 | JPL: Computed at 19:35 Dec. 29th Pacific time based on 25 observations spanning 3.5858 days (2020-Dec-26.434286 to 2020-Dec-30.020125). Diameter approximately 0.030 km. from weighted mean H=25.25. | |
| 2016 AZ193 | JPL Sentry | 0602 | 2021-2114 | 491 | 2.1893227e-06 | -6.19 | -7.15 | 0 | JPL: 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. |
| 2011 YC63 | JPL Sentry | 0602 | 2034-2048 | 4 | 4.5030993e-06 | -6.50 | -6.51 | 0 | JPL: Computed at 08:08 April 9th of 2017 Pacific time based on 14 observations spanning .93688 days (2011-Dec-31.38732 to 2012-Jan-01.3242). Diameter approximately 0.005 km. from weighted mean H=28.98. |
| 2010 XN69 | JPL Sentry | 0602 | 2024-2116 | 142 | 6.94032716e-05 | -4.84 | -6.01 | 0 | JPL: Computed at 21:19 April 6th of 2017 Pacific time based on 15 observations spanning .89999 days (2010-Dec-15.23581 to 2010-Dec-16.1358). Diameter approximately 0.019 km. from weighted mean H=26.31. |
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 30 December '20
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 1700 | Noted that NEODyS has posted 2020 YB5 as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y157 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
| 0602 | Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2010 XN69 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2011 YC63 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2016 AZ193 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2020 YB5 as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y155 - 2020 YA5 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y156 - 2020 YB5 - see above |
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