Contents on 6 December '08
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- eight listings: 3 new, 5 updated
- New MPECs -- six MPECs
- Observers -- twelve observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- eight 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.
NEOCP Activity on 6 December '08
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 8 listings: 3 new, 5 updated
When last checked at 2248 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had three new and five updated listings. Of these, seven were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of seventeen 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 6 December '08
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2248 UTC, there have been six MPECs issued today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2008-X47 time-stamped "00:08 UT" - 2006 QJ181 - see below
- MPEC 2008-X48 time-stamped "04:31 UT" - Comet C/2008 X3 (LINEAR) - see below
- MPEC 2008-X49 time-stamped "07:11 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2008-X50 time-stamped "15:13 UT" - 2008 XO2 - see below
- MPEC 2008-X51 time-stamped "15:16 UT" - 2008 XP2 - see below
- MPEC 2008-X52 time-stamped "15:21 UT" - 2008 XQ2
MPEC 2008-X52 - "15:21 UT" - 2008 XQ2
- K08X02Q 2008 XQ2 (H=19.9 ~355m) was discovered at 1023 UT on 5 Dec. by the Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS), which observed it at Dec. 5.43-51p8 and 6.38-39p4. The discovery was confirmed by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) (Dec. 5.42-44p4) and Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) (Dec. 6.38-40p4).
MPEC 2008-X51 - "15:16 UT" - 2008 XP2
- K08X02P 2008 XP2 (risk-listed, H=18.7 ~616m) was discovered at 0958 UT on 5 Dec. by CSS, which observed it at Dec. 5.42-50p8 and 6.39-41p4. The discovery was confirmed by MRO (Dec. 6.34-36p4) and MLS (Dec. 6.38-40p4).
MPEC 2008-X50 - "15:13 UT" - 2008 XO2
- K08X02O 2008 XO2 (risk-listed, H=18.4 ~708m) was discovered at 0439 UT on 5 Dec. by MLS, which observed it at Dec. 5.19-29p8. The discovery was confirmed by MRO (Dec. 6.12-13p4 & 6.19-21p3) and the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Dec. 6.36-37p3).
<< DOU on 6 Dec. '08 >> MPEC 2008-X49 - "07:11 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K08X02B 2008 XB2 (small asteroid, arc=1 day, H=24.8 ~37m) from Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) (Dec. 5.18-19p3)
- K08X01M 2008 XM1 (Q=4.268 AU, arc=1 day, H=21.7 ~155m) from ARO (Dec. 5.12p3)
- K08X01C 2008 XC1 (small asteroid, arc=2 days, H=23.5 ~68m) from ARO (Dec. 5.20-21p3) and Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 5.25-27p3)
- K08X00N 2008 XN (arc=3 days, H=21.4 ~178m) from ARO (Dec. 5.22-23p3)
- K08W96K 2008 WK96 (small asteroid, arc=5 days, H=22.9 ~89m) from ARO (Dec. 5.35p3) and Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 5.52-54p3)
- K08W13Z 2008 WZ13 (arc=15 days, H=18.7 ~616m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 5.35-36p3)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K08W96J 2008 WJ96 (small asteroid, arc=5 days, H=25.5 ~27m) from the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope (Dec. 5.28-32p3)
- K08W32Y 2008 WY32 (small asteroid, arc=13 days, H=22.3 ~117m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 5.28p3)
- K08W32X 2008 WX32 (arc=33 days, H=19.0 ~537m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 5.32-33p3)
- K08W32K 2008 WK32 (arc=14 days, H=19.3 ~467m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 5.39-40p3)
- K08W14A 2008 WA14 (small asteroid, arc=15 days, H=23.0 ~85m) from ARO (Dec. 5.10-11p3)
- K08W01P 2008 WP1 (arc=16 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from ARO (Dec. 5.13p3)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K08X01L 2008 XL1 (arc=2 days, H=22.9 ~89m) from ARO (Dec. 5.23-24p3)
- K08W96E 2008 WE96 (arc=5 days, H=23.7 ~62m) from ARO (Dec. 5.17-18p4)
- K08W62S 2008 WS62 (arc=11 days, H=25.2 ~31m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 5.29-30p3)
- K08W00K 2008 WK (arc=17 days, H=23.2 ~78m) from CSS (Dec. 5.29-31p8)
- Observations of other objects
- K08X02E 2008 XE2 (Q=5.345 AU, arc=1 day, H=18.9 ~562m) from ARO (Dec. 5.36p3)
- K08X00M 2008 XM (q=0.110 AU, arc=3 days, H=19.8 ~371m) from ARO (Dec. 5.11-12p4)
- K08W61K 2008 WK61 (arc=11 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 26.18-19p5)
- K08W60L 2008 WL60 (arc=11 days, H=18.1 ~812m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 26.13-14p2 & 26.20p1)
- K08W60H 2008 WH60 (arc=12 days, H=20.8 ~234m) from ARO (Dec. 5.16p4)
- K08U01U 2008 UU1 (arc=45 days, H=20.0 ~339m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 6.12-13p3 at V=22.2)
- K08TF7K 2008 TK157 (arc=73 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from ARO (Dec. 5.15p5)
- K07E88M 2007 EM88 (arc=2 opp, H=19.4 ~446m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 5.50-53p3)
- K04T11U 2004 TU11 (arc=2 opp, H=21.1 ~204m) from CSS (Dec. 5.21-22p4)
- K02X90P 2002 XP90 (arc=3 opp, H=18.3 ~741m) from CSS (Dec. 5.51-52p4)
- K01Y11X 2001 YX11 (arc=3 opp, H=20.0 ~339m) from MLS (Dec. 5.46-48p4)
- K01W25A 2001 WA25 (arc=4 opp, H=18.6 ~645m) from CSS (Dec. 5.30-33p6)
- F4715 154715 2004 LB6 from CSS (Dec. 5.36-37p3)
- F2889 152889 2000 CF59 from MLS (Dec. 5.49-51p4)
- E1765 141765 2002 MP3 from MLS (Dec. 5.38-39p4)
- D8859 138859 2000 WN63 from MLS (Dec. 5.20-22p4)
- D8852 138852 2000 WN10 from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 26.05-12p3)
- 90075 90075 2002 VU94 from MLS (Dec. 5.16-18p4)
- 17511 17511 1992 QN from CSS (Dec. 5.38-40p4)
MPEC 2008-X48 - "04:31 UT" - Comet C/2008 X3 (LINEAR)
- CK08X030 C/2008 X3 (LINEAR) (i=71.0°, q=2.110 AU, TP=2008 Nov. 19.300 TT) from LINEAR (Dec. 4.45-50p5), MLS (Dec. 5.49-52p4), Sandlot Obs. (Dec. 5.50-51p3), and Terskol Obs. (Dec. 6.06p3)
MPEC 2008-X47 - "00:08 UT" - 2006 QJ181
- K06QI1J 2006 QJ181 (q=31.609 AU, Q=93.178 AU, H=6.3 ~186 km) from Lowell Obs. Anderson Mesa Station (2007 Oct. 11.43p1 & 2007 Oct. 11.49p1) and Kitt Peak Natl. Obs. (KPNO) (Oct. 22.43p1, 22.48p1, 24.42p1 & 24.51p1)
Observers on 6 December '08
Twelve observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| H55 | Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) in Illinois, 13 in MPEC 2008-X49 -- 2008 XN, 2008 XM1, 2008 XM, 2008 XL1, 2008 XE2, 2008 XC1, 2008 XB2, 2008 WP1, 2008 WK96, 2008 WH60, 2008 WE96, 2008 WA14, 2008 TK157 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 8 in MPECs 2008-X49, 2008-X51 & 2008-X52 -- 2008 XQ2, 2008 XP2, 2008 WK, 2004 TU11, 2002 XP90, 2001 WA25, 17511, 154715 |
| 695 | Kitt Peak Natl. Obs. in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2008-X47 -- 2006 QJ181 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2008-X48 -- C/2008 X3 |
| 688 | Lowell Obs. Anderson Mesa Station in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2008-X47 -- 2006 QJ181 |
| H01 | Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) in New Mexico, 3 in MPECs 2008-X50, 2008-X51 & 2008-X52 -- 2008 XQ2, 2008 XP2, 2008 XO2 |
| G96 | Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 9 in MPECs 2008-X48, 2008-X49, 2008-X50, 2008-X51 & 2008-X52 -- 2008 XQ2, 2008 XP2, 2008 XO2, C/2008 X3, 2001 YX11, 90075, 152889, 141765, 138859 |
| H36 | Sandlot Obs. in Kansas, 1 in MPEC 2008-X48 -- C/2008 X3 |
| 204 | Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 3 in MPEC 2008-X49 -- 2008 WL60, 2008 WK61, 138852 |
| 691 | Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 2 in MPEC 2008-X49 -- 2008 WJ96, 2007 EM88 |
| 291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 9 in MPECs 2008-X49 & 2008-X50 -- 2008 XO2, 2008 XC1, 2008 WZ13, 2008 WY32, 2008 WX32, 2008 WS62, 2008 WK96, 2008 WK32, 2008 UU1 |
| B18 | Terskol Obs. in Russia, 1 in MPEC 2008-X48 -- C/2008 X3 |
| For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. | |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 6 December '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 XP2 | JPL Sentry | 1708 | 2106 | 1 | 1.7e-09 | -5.88 | -5.88 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 20 observations spanning .99279 days (2008-Dec-05.41591 to 2008-Dec-06.4087)." Diameter approximately 0.630 km. from mean, weighted H=18.7. |
| 2008 XO2 | JPL Sentry | 1708 | 2016-2100 | 68 | 1.9e-08 | -4.28 | -4.99 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 18 observations spanning 1.1789 days (2008-Dec-05.19431 to 2008-Dec-06.37319)." Diameter approximately 0.768 km. from mean, weighted H=18.2. |
| 2008 XB2 | JPL Sentry | 1557 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 0956 UTC. | |||||
| 2008 XM1 | JPL Sentry | 1557 | 2015-2061 | 10 | 7.0e-07 | -3.91 | -4.12 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 20 observations spanning .92122 days (2008-Dec-04.20208 to 2008-Dec-05.1233)." Diameter approximately 0.149 km. from mean, weighted H=21.8. |
| NEODyS | 1557 | 2041-2061 | 4 | 7.29e-08 | -5.14 | -5.20 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 20 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2008/12/04.203 to 2008/12/05.124." | |
| 2008 XC1 | JPL Sentry | 1557 | 2058-2094 | 8 | 2.9e-06 | -5.00 | -5.38 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 32 observations spanning 1.9009 days (2008-Dec-03.36799 to 2008-Dec-05.26887)." Diameter approximately 0.068 km. from mean, weighted H=23.5. |
| NEODyS | 1557 | 2058-2088 | 5 | 2.59e-06 | -5.04 | -5.40 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 32 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2008/12/03.369 to 2008/12/05.270." | |
| 2008 XN | JPL Sentry | 1557 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 1030 UTC. | |||||
| NEODyS | 1557 | R E M O V E D | - | ||||||
| 2008 WK96 | JPL Sentry | 1557 | 2024-2031 | 2 | 5.1e-05 | -2.80 | -2.80 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 25 observations spanning 5.1474 days (2008-Nov-30.38762 to 2008-Dec-05.53502)." Diameter approximately 0.088 km. from mean, weighted H=22.9. |
| NEODyS | 1557 | 2024-2031 | 3 | 4.89e-05 | -2.82 | -2.82 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 25 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2008/11/30.388 to 2008/12/05.536." | |
| 2008 WZ13 | JPL Sentry | 1557 | 2068-2093 | 3 | 1.8e-09 | -5.95 | -6.23 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 56 observations spanning 15.087 days (2008-Nov-20.27557 to 2008-Dec-05.36209)." Diameter approximately 0.592 km. from mean, weighted H=18.8. |
| NEODyS | 1557 | 2068 | 1 | 2.59e-11 | -7.65 | -7.65 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 56 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2008/11/20.276 to 2008/12/05.363." | |
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 6 December '08
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 1708 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2008 XO2 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2008 XP2 as an impact risk - see above |
| 1557 | Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 WK96 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2008 WK96 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 WZ13 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2008 WZ13 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2008 XB2 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 XC1 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2008 XC1 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 XM1 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2008 XM1 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2008 XN as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has removed 2008 XN as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-X49 - Daily Orbit Update - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-X50 - 2008 XO2 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-X51 - 2008 XP2 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2008-X52 - 2008 XQ2 - see above |
| 0520 | Grabbed MPEC 2008-X48 - Comet C/2008 X3 (LINEAR) - see above |
| 0021 | Grabbed MPEC 2008-X47 - 2006 QJ181 - see above |
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