On January 28th Arecibo bounced signals off of 2007 TU24 to be received at Green Bank to obtain this image when the asteroid was coming inside of three lunar distances of Earth and closer. Further observation from Arecibo is planned during 1-4 February. See A/CC's 2007 TU24 links for more info. Credit: NASA.
Contents on 31 January '08
- Radar Astrometry -- one object
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- two listings: 2 updated
- New MPECs -- five MPECs
- Observers -- 20 observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- seven objects
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page
- Earth's Busy Neighborhood Traffic Report
- Ephemerides for risk-rated and nearby objects
- Old & new CRT Archive
- Old News Archive & Small Objects Archive
The latest A/CC news is available via framed access, 
RSS news feed, or redirection. - Note: A/CC has a main Web site and also a backup site with its own duplicate RSS news feed.
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. And use the all-up news archive to access news from any time since A/CC began in early 2002. To keep track of what's new each day, watch the Chronology section.
Radar Astrometry on 31 January '08
Radar observation of one object
The JPL Solar System Dynamics Group Radar Astrometry database has added the following small-body radar observing work:
Data addition noted at 1531 UTC when the database was dated 31 Jan.
- 2007 TU24 from Arecibo (transmit) with Green Bank (receive) at Jan. 28.88 (range) - see links
NEOCP Activity on 31 January '08
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 2 listings: 2 updated
When last checked at 2354 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's NEO discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had two updated listings. Both of these were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of four objects listed on the NEOCP at some point today.
To learn how observers use the NEOCP, see the Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object by Birtwhistle et al. at Suno Observatory.
New MPECs on 31 January '08
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2354 UTC, there have been five MPECs issued today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2008-B67 time-stamped "07:08 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2008-B68 time-stamped "13:36 UT" - 2008 BN16 - see below
- MPEC 2008-B69 time-stamped "13:39 UT" - 2008 BO16 - see below
- MPEC 2008-B70 time-stamped "13:41 UT" - 2008 BP16 - see below
- MPEC 2008-B71 time-stamped "13:44 UT" - 2008 BQ16
MPEC 2008-B71 - "13:44 UT" - 2008 BQ16
- K08B16Q 2008 BQ16 (H=19.0 ~537m) was discovered at 1135 UT on 30 Jan. by the Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS), which observed it at Jan. 30.48-54p8. The discovery was confirmed by the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Jan. 31.38-39p3).
MPEC 2008-B70 - "13:41 UT" - 2008 BP16
- K08B16P 2008 BP16 (q=0.268 AU, H=21.1 ~204m) was discovered at 0948 UT on 30 Jan. by the MLS, which observed it at Jan. 30.41-47p8. The discovery was confirmed by Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 31.36-37p3).
MPEC 2008-B69 - "13:39 UT" - 2008 BO16
- K08B16O 2008 BO16 (risk-listed, Q=4.410 AU, Earth MOID=5.5 LD, H=22.6 ~102m) was discovered at 0908 UT on 30 Jan. by the MLS, which observed it at Jan. 30.38-40p4 and 30.44-47p4. The discovery was confirmed by Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 31.30p3).
MPEC 2008-B68 - "13:36 UT" - 2008 BN16
- K08B16N 2008 BN16 (risk-listed, Earth MOID=4.7 LD, H=25.9 ~22m) was discovered at 0556 UT on 30 Jan. by the MLS, which observed it at Jan. 30.25-27p4, 30.34-37p4, and 31.28-29p4 at V=22.5. The discovery was confirmed by Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 31.34-35p3).
<< DOU on 31 Jan. '08 >> MPEC 2008-B67 - "07:08 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K08B15E 2008 BE15 (small asteroid, arc=0 days, H=24.7 ~39m) from LINEAR (Jan. 30.39-43p4)
- K08B15C 2008 BC15 (small asteroid, arc=0 days, H=26.7 ~15m) from the Siding Spring Survey (SSS) (Jan. 30.72p1)
- K08A04F 2008 AF4 (arc=21 days, H=19.8 ~371m) from Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. (PJMSO) (Jan. 30.24-25p6) and Atlante Obs. (Jan. 31.00-01p3)
- K07Y56V 2007 YV56 (arc=30 days, H=21.0 ~214m) from Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) (Jan. 27.15-16p3)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K08A33N 2008 AN33 (Q=4.325 AU, arc=15 days, H=18.9 ~562m) from Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.43-47p3)
- K08A33L 2008 AL33 (small asteroid, arc=15 days, H=22.8 ~93m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.27-28p3)
- K08A00E 2008 AE (arc=2 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.33-34p6), the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) (Jan. 30.45-47p4), and LINEAR (Jan. 30.46-51p5)
- K07Y02B 2007 YB2 (Q=5.227 AU, arc=43 days, H=18.4 ~708m) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.38p6) and Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.49p3)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K08B02X 2008 BX2 (arc=10 days, H=23.6 ~65m) from ARO (Jan. 27.22-23p3) and Powell Obs. (Jan. 30.21p3)
- K08B02V 2008 BV2 (arc=11 days, H=22.9 ~89m) from ARO (Jan. 27.35-36p3) and Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.40-41p3)
- K07Y56T 2007 YT56 (arc=30 days, H=23.4 ~71m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.38-39p3)
- Observations of other objects
- K08B02S 2008 BS2 (arc=12 days, H=18.2 ~776m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.41-42p3)
- K08A28T 2008 AT28 (arc=20 days, H=18.5 ~676m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.23-24p3) and Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.32-37p3)
- K07Y00K 2007 YK (arc=45 days, H=17.6 ~1.02 km) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.26-27p4), LINEAR (Jan. 30.40-45p5), Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.40-41p3), and CSS (Jan. 30.41-43p4)
- K07V04Q 2007 VQ4 (arc=3 opp, H=15.8 ~2.34 km, q=1.271 AU) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.39-41p6)
- K07T24U 2007 TU24 (arc=112 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from roving observer (Jan. 29.17-18p4 & 29.22-23p4), Starkenburg Obs. (Jan. 29.82-83p9), Balzaretto Obs. (Jan. 29.93-95p10), Hormersdorf Obs. (Jan. 29.94p3), PJMSO (Jan. 30.23-24p12), Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.25-27p6), LINEAR (Jan. 30.36-39p4), Huelva Obs. (Jan. 30.87-90p4), Inastars Obs. (Jan. 31.01-02p5), and Atlante Obs. (Jan. 31.02-04p4)
- K07T08G 2007 TG8 (Q=4.306 AU, arc=139 days, H=18.6 ~645m) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.37p6)
- K05X01E 2005 XE1 (arc=2 opp, H=19.0 ~537m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.50-51p3)
- K05T45U 2005 TU45 (arc=3 opp, H=17.1 ~1.29 km) from CSS (Jan. 30.19-21p4) and LINEAR (Jan. 30.28-33p5)
- K05G00K 2005 GK (arc=3 opp, H=20.0 ~339m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.44-45p3)
- K05E70K 2005 EK70 (arc=4 opp, H=17.5 ~1.07 km) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.36p5)
- K04C02R 2004 CR2 (arc=2 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.48-49p3)
- K03E16E 2003 EE16 (arc=4 opp, H=19.9 ~355m) from MLS (Jan. 30.41-47p8)
- K03B84H 2003 BH84 (arc=2 opp, H=16.9 ~1.41 km) from LINEAR (Jan. 30.15-19p4)
- K03B47M 2003 BM47 (arc=4 opp, H=20.3 ~295m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.43-44p3)
- K03B35T 2003 BT35 (i=57.3°, arc=3 opp, H=18.6 ~645m) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.29p6)
- K02X90M 2002 XM90 (arc=3 opp, H=17.8 ~933m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.54-55p3)
- K00DA7P 2000 DP107 (arc=4 opp, H=18.2 ~776m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Jan. 30.44-45p3)
- J89A00Z 1989 AZ (arc=3 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Thompsonville Obs. (Jan. 31.17-18p6)
- H3561 173561 2000 YV137 from CSS (Jan. 30.28-30p4)
- H3232 173232 1998 XC9 from Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.08-12p3)
- H2722 172722 2004 BV102 from PJMSO (Jan. 30.30-33p5), LINEAR (Jan. 30.40-45p4), and CSS (Jan. 30.41-43p4)
- H0903 170903 2004 WS2 from CSS (Jan. 30.09-10p4)
- H0891 170891 2004 TY16 from Thompsonville Obs. (Jan. 31.20-21p6)
- G3902 163902 2003 SW222 from CSS (Jan. 30.11-13p4)
- G3696 163696 2003 EB50 from LINEAR (Jan. 30.08-13p5) and CSS (Jan. 30.10-12p4)
- G2510 162510 2000 QW69 from Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.51p3)
- G2173 162173 1999 JU3 from Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.15-16p4)
- F3591 153591 2001 SN263 from Thompsonville Obs. (Jan. 31.15p6)
- E0288 140288 2001 SN289 from Desert Moon Obs. (Jan. 30.53-54p4)
- D8258 138258 2000 GD2 from the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope (Jan. 30.51-54p2)
- 99935 99935 2002 AV4 from Thompsonville Obs. (Jan. 31.10-11p6)
- 86324 86324 1999 WA2 from Thompsonville Obs. (Jan. 31.11-12p5)
- 85804 85804 1998 WQ5 from Thompsonville Obs. (Jan. 31.07p6)
- 66959 66959 1999 XO35 from LINEAR (Jan. 30.15-20p5) and CSS (Jan. 30.16-18p4)
- 33342 33342 1998 WT24 from LINEAR (Jan. 30.08-13p5)
- 22099 22099 2000 EX106 from PJMSO (Jan. 30.30p5) and CSS (Jan. 30.45-47p4)
- 13651 13651 1997 BR from Spacewatch 0.9m (Jan. 30.52-55p3)
- 11398 11398 1998 YP11 from PJMSO (Jan. 30.34-35p5)
- 04954 4954 Eric (1990 SQ) from LINEAR (Jan. 30.08-13p5)
- 04450 4450 Pan (1987 SY) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.27-28p5) and Atlante Obs. (Jan. 30.92-93p3)
- 03691 3691 Bede (1982 FT) from PJMSO (Jan. 30.38-39p5)
- 01685 1685 Toro (1948 OA) from Huelva Obs. (Jan. 27.89-92p2)
Observers on 31 January '08
A total of 20 observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| 251 | Arecibo in Puerto Rico, 1 in radar -- 2007 TU24 |
| H55 | Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) in Illinois, 3 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2008 BX2, 2008 BV2, 2007 YV56 |
| J51 | Atlante Obs. in the Canary Islands, 3 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2008 AF4, 2007 TU24, 4450 |
| A81 | Balzaretto Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2007 TU24 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 10 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2008 AE, 2007 YK, 2005 TU45, 66959, 22099, 173561, 172722, 170903, 163902, 163696 |
| 448 | Desert Moon Obs. in New Mexico, 9 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2008 AT28, 2008 AN33, 2007 YK, 2007 YB2, 2007 TU24, 173232, 162510, 162173, 140288 |
| 256 | Green Bank in West Virginia, 1 in radar -- 2007 TU24 |
| A35 | Hormersdorf Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2007 TU24 |
| J37 | Huelva Obs. in Spain, 2 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2007 TU24, 1685 |
| B15 | Inastars Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2007 TU24 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 11 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2008 BE15, 2008 AE, 2007 YK, 2007 TU24, 2005 TU45, 2003 BH84, 66959, 33342, 172722, 163696, 4954 |
| G96 | Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 5 in MPECs 2008-B67, 2008-B68, 2008-B69, 2008-B70 & 2008-B71 -- 2008 BQ16, 2008 BP16, 2008 BO16, 2008 BN16, 2003 EE16 |
| H45 | Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. (PJMSO) in Arkansas, 14 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2008 AF4, 2008 AE, 2007 YK, 2007 YB2, 2007 VQ4, 2007 TU24, 2007 TG8, 2005 EK70, 2003 BT35, 22099, 172722, 11398, 4450, 3691 |
| 649 | Powell Obs. in Kansas, 1 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2008 BX2 |
| E12 | Siding Spring Survey in New South Wales, 1 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2008 BC15 |
| 691 | Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 2 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 138258, 13651 |
| 291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 15 in MPECs 2008-B67, 2008-B68, 2008-B69, 2008-B70 & 2008-B71 -- 2008 BV2, 2008 BS2, 2008 BQ16, 2008 BP16, 2008 BO16, 2008 BN16, 2008 AT28, 2008 AL33, 2007 YT56, 2005 XE1, 2005 GK, 2004 CR2, 2003 BM47, 2002 XM90, 2000 DP107 |
| 611 | Starkenburg Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2007 TU24 |
| H53 | Thompsonville Obs. in Illinois, 6 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 1989 AZ, 99935, 86324, 85804, 170891, 153591 |
| 247 | roving observer, 1 in MPEC 2008-B67 -- 2007 TU24 |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 31 January '08
| 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 |
| 2008 BO16 | JPL Sentry | 1628 | 2021-2107 | 69 | 4.9e-07 | -4.87 | -5.65 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 11 observations spanning .92247 days (2008-Jan-30.38083 to 2008-Jan-31.3033)." Diameter approximately 0.098 km. from mean, weighted H=22.7. |
| 2008 BN16 | JPL Sentry | 1758 | 2029-2108 | 42 | 1.5e-06 | -6.27 | -6.77 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 15 observations spanning 1.0974 days (2008-Jan-30.24765 to 2008-Jan-31.34506)." Diameter approximately 0.022 km. from mean, weighted H=25.9. |
| 2008 BE15 | NEODyS | 1531 | 2027-2074 | 5 | 3.41e-09 | -7.80 | -8.03 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 20 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2008/01/30.384 to 2008/01/30.483." |
| JPL Sentry | 1530 | 2027-2098 | 24 | 7.8e-08 | -6.86 | -7.28 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 20 observations spanning .09912 days (2008-Jan-30.3833 to 2008-Jan-30.48242)." Diameter approximately 0.041 km. from mean, weighted H=24.6. | |
| 2008 BD15 | JPL Sentry | 2334 | 2008-2107 | 233 | 6.6e-07 | -2.91 | -2.96 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 15 observations spanning .12929 days (2008-Jan-30.31301 to 2008-Jan-30.4423)." Diameter approximately 0.250 km. from mean, weighted H=20.7. |
| 2008 BC15 | NEODyS | 1531 | 2072 | 1 | 1.03e-06 | -6.64 | -6.64 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 21 optical observations (of which 1 are rejected as outliers) from 2008/01/30.313 to 2008/01/30.725." |
| JPL Sentry | 1530 | 2072-2094 | 2 | 1.9e-06 | -6.42 | -6.61 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 21 observations spanning .41244 days (2008-Jan-30.31193 to 2008-Jan-30.72437)." Diameter approximately 0.016 km. from mean, weighted H=26.7. | |
| 2008 AF4 | NEODyS | 1531 | 2079-2090 | 12 | 3.83e-06 | -3.13 | -3.27 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 332 optical observations (of which 4 are rejected as outliers) from 2008/01/10.397 to 2008/01/31.016." |
| JPL Sentry | 1530 | 2088-2100 | 25 | 1.7e-05 | -2.51 | -3.13 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 328 observations spanning 20.618 days (2008-Jan-10.39652 to 2008-Jan-31.01493)." Diameter approximately 0.379 km. from mean, weighted H=19.8. | |
| 2007 YV56 | JPL Sentry | 1530 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 1109 UTC. | |||||
Legend: VI# = VI count, Prob Cum = cumulative probability, PS Cum/Max = cumulative/maximum Palermo Scale, TS = Torino Scale
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 31 January '08
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 2334 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2008 BD15 as an impact risk - see above |
| 1758 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2008 BN16 as an impact risk - see above |
| 1628 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2008 BO16 as an impact risk - see above |
| 1531 | Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2008 AF4 risk assessment - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-B67 - Daily Orbit Update - see above Noted Radar Astrometry database addition |
| 1530 | Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2007 YV56 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 AF4 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 BC15 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has posted 2008 BC15 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 BE15 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has posted 2008 BE15 as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-B68 - 2008 BN16 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-B69 - 2008 BO16 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-B70 - 2008 BP16 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-B71 - 2008 BQ16 - see above |
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