Looking suddenly comet-like, there are so many questions now about 596 Scheila. Is it a Main Belt comet, not an asteroid? And is this activity, first noticed by the Catalina Sky Survey two days ago, due to an impact, such as occurred with P/2010 A2 (LINEAR), by what kind of impactor, and how long ago? The image here is from early yesterday, ©copyright 2010 Great Shefford Observatory, used with permission. See more images from observatories RAS Mayhill / Brimacombe, Remanzacco, Tzec Maun / Foglia, Vicksburg, and Xingming.
Contents on 13 December '10
- Radar Astrometry -- one object
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- one listing: 1 new
- New MPECs -- eight MPECs
- Observers -- 23 observers
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- five objects
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page
Of 390 risk-listed objects, 353 have had news in the last 31 days. Updated at 1718 UTC on 13 Dec. - Earth's Busy Neighborhood Traffic Report
Six objects are known to be within ten LD of Earth today. Updated at 1716 UTC on 13 Dec. - Ephemerides for risk-rated and nearby objects
- News image catalog
- 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 13 December '10
Radar observation of one object
The JPL Solar System Dynamics Group Radar Astrometry database has added or updated the following small-body radar observing work:
Data update noted at 2304 UTC when the database was dated 13 Dec.
- 2010 JL33 from Goldstone DSS-14 70m antenna (Dec. 11.26 range, 11.35 range, 12.07 velocity & 12.45 range) - see links
NEOCP Activity on 13 December '10
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 1 listing: 1 new
When last checked at 2359 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had one new listing. So far The Tracking News has counted a total of eight listings on the NEOCP at some point today.
New MPECs on 13 December '10
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2359 UTC, there have been eight MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2010-X102 time-stamped "01:52 UT" - Comet P/2010 W1 (Gibbs) - see below
- MPEC 2010-X103 time-stamped "07:09 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2010-X104 time-stamped "13:28 UT" - 2010 XV58 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X105 time-stamped "13:34 UT" - 2010 XW58 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X106 time-stamped "13:39 UT" - 2010 XX58 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X107 time-stamped "13:48 UT" - 2010 XY58 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X108 time-stamped "13:53 UT" - 2010 XZ58 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X109 time-stamped "13:57 UT" - 2010 XA59
MPEC 2010-X109 - "13:57 UT" - 2010 XA59
- K10X59A 2010 XA59 (risk-listed, H=24.0 ~54m) from the Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) (Dec. 13.45-53p11) and Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) (Dec. 13.50-53p4)
MPEC 2010-X108 - "13:53 UT" - 2010 XZ58
- K10X58Z 2010 XZ58 (small asteroid, Earth MOID=3.1 LD, H=23.6 ~65m) from the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) (Dec. 13.44-49p8 & 13.54p4) and MRO (Dec. 13.49-51p4)
MPEC 2010-X107 - "13:48 UT" - 2010 XY58
- K10X58Y 2010 XY58 (small asteroid, H=23.1 ~81m) from MLS (Dec. 13.31-36p8) and MRO (Dec. 13.38-40p4)
MPEC 2010-X106 - "13:39 UT" - 2010 XX58
- K10X58X 2010 XX58 (q=0.275 AU, Q=5.259 AU, H=18.4 ~708m) from CSS (Dec. 12.42-47p8), Malina River Obs. (Dec. 12.84-86p4), New Millennium Obs. (Dec. 12.90-91p4), Farra d'Isonzo Obs. (Dec. 12.93-95p2), and MRO (Dec. 13.34-36p4)
MPEC 2010-X105 - "13:34 UT" - 2010 XW58
- K10X58W 2010 XW58 (risk-listed, Earth MOID=0.2 LD, H=24.6 ~41m) from MLS (Dec. 11.47-53p8 & 12.50-51p4), MRO (Dec. 13.38-40p4), and the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Dec. 13.49-50p3)
MPEC 2010-X104 - "13:28 UT" - 2010 XV58
- K10X58V 2010 XV58 (small asteroid, H=25.2 ~31m) from MLS (Dec. 11.26-28p4 & 13.23p4) and MRO (Dec. 13.31-34p4)
<< DOU on 13 Dec. '10 >> MPEC 2010-X103 - "07:09 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K10X25C 2010 XC25 from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 12.39-40p3)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K10W08Z 2010 WZ8 (arc=13 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.17-18p3) and Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 12.37-38p3)
- K10V76A 2010 VA76 (small asteroid, arc=34 days, H=24.0 ~54m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 12.22-24p2)
- K10V75W 2010 VW75 (Q=4.347 AU, arc=30 days, H=21.7 ~155m) from Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield (Nov. 28.10-13p2 at V=21.9-22.2)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K10X56M 2010 XM56 (arc=2 days, H=24.9 ~35m) from Sormano Obs. (Dec. 11.82-85p3) and Malina River Obs. (Dec. 11.88-90p3)
- K10X25N 2010 XN25 (arc=4 days, H=24.9 ~35m) from Sandlot Obs. (Dec. 13.19-21p4)
- K10X25G 2010 XG25 (arc=3 days, H=24.8 ~37m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 9.95-98p3), LINEAR (Dec. 12.20-25p4), and Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 12.28-29p3)
- K10X24A 2010 XA24 (arc=5 days, H=25.0 ~34m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 10.12-13p2) and Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 10.99-00p6)
- K10X11E 2010 XE11 (arc=8 days, H=23.0 ~85m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.06p3)
- K10X10R 2010 XR10 (arc=10 days, H=23.5 ~68m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 12.27p2)
- K10W03G 2010 WG3 (arc=13 days, H=22.6 ~102m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 29.87-88p3)
- K10S15J 2010 SJ15 (arc=10 days, H=22.5 ~107m) from ARO Westfield (Sept. 29.36-39p3)
- K10R80R 2010 RR80 (arc=27 days, H=22.4 ~112m) from ARO Westfield (Sept. 29.08-10p3)
- K10P65S 2010 PS65 (Q=4.689 AU, arc=33 days, H=24.7 ~39m) from ARO Westfield (Aug. 22.24-26p3)
- K10P02Q 2010 PQ2 (arc=43 days, H=24.5 ~43m) from ARO Westfield (Aug. 22.29-32p3)
- Observations of almost-small asteroids (21.7<H<=22.0)
- K10X24B 2010 XB24 (arc=6 days, H=21.8 ~148m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 13.22p3)
- Observations of other objects
- K10X45T 2010 XT45 (arc=2 days, H=17.4 ~1.12 km) from Consell Obs. (Dec. 10.97-99p7) and GiaGa Obs. (Dec. 10.99-01p2)
- K10X11B 2010 XB11 (IEO, q=0.288 AU, Q=0.948 AU, arc=10 days, H=19.9 ~355m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 12.52-53p3)
- K10X10O 2010 XO10 (arc=9 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.09p3)
- K10X03G 2010 XG3 (arc=10 days, H=21.7 ~155m) from CSS (Dec. 12.27-29p4)
- K10X00G 2010 XG (i=38.7°, arc=10 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 4.11-13p3)
- K10W08Y 2010 WY8 (arc=13 days, H=21.0 ~214m) from Sandlot Obs. (Dec. 13.22-25p3)
- K10W07Q 2010 WQ7 (arc=16 days, H=18.1 ~812m) from Peschiera del Garda Obs. (Dec. 12.87-92p3)
- K10W03F 2010 WF3 (arc=10 days, H=20.9 ~224m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 29.82-84p2)
- K10W00L 2010 WL (arc=22 days, H=20.1 ~323m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.08p3)
- K10W00J 2010 WJ (arc=24 days, H=18.3 ~741m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.07-08p3)
- K10VI8K 2010 VK188 (arc=2 opp, H=18.4 ~708m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.10-11p3)
- K10V11T 2010 VT11 (arc=41 days, H=21.5 ~170m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 13.17-19p3)
- K10U07F 2010 UF7 (arc=54 days, H=19.3 ~467m) from MLS (Dec. 12.06-08p4)
- K10T03M 2010 TM3 (arc=2 opp, H=20.6 ~257m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.01p3) and Balzaretto Obs. (Dec. 11.92-93p2)
- K10RI1F 2010 RF181 (arc=91 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.18-19p3)
- K10LA8U 2010 LU108 (Q=4.073 AU, arc=51 days, H=20.0 ~339m) from ARO Westfield (Aug. 6.18-22p3)
- K10L86F 2010 LF86 (arc=184 days, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from Peschiera del Garda Obs. (Dec. 12.79-83p4)
- K10L68R 2010 LR68 (Q=4.878 AU, arc=2 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.13-14p3) and LINEAR (Dec. 12.33-38p5)
- K10L63Y 2010 LY63 (arc=4 opp, H=17.9 ~891m) from CSS (Dec. 12.06-08p4)
- K10K00H 2010 KH (Q=4.282 AU, arc=210 days, H=19.6 ~407m) from LINEAR (Dec. 12.21-25p4)
- K10J33L 2010 JL33 (Q=4.634 AU, arc=4 opp, H=17.9 ~891m) from Mike Hicks via Table Mtn. Obs. (Dec. 9.11p2), Starry Wanderer Obs. (Dec. 10.96-97p8), Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 12.76p3), Peschiera del Garda Obs. (Dec. 12.76-77p8), and An Carraig Obs. (Dec. 12.88-91p7)
- K09J02O 2009 JO2 (arc=2 opp, H=19.2 ~490m) from ARO Westfield (June 26.20-22p3)
- K08Y32U 2008 YU32 (arc=2 opp, H=20.0 ~339m) from LINEAR (Dec. 12.19-24p5)
- K08B02U 2008 BU2 (i=38.4°, q=0.360 AU, arc=3 opp, H=18.4 ~708m) from MLS (Dec. 12.52-53p4)
- K07X10B 2007 XB10 (i=41.4°, arc=2 opp, H=17.7 ~977m) from ARO Westfield (Nov. 19.19-21p3)
- K07E88M 2007 EM88 (arc=3 opp, H=19.4 ~446m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 29.98-99p3)
- K06V14B 2006 VB14 (arc=3 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 29.92-93p5), LINEAR (Dec. 12.20-25p5), and Peschiera del Garda Obs. (Dec. 12.94-95p5)
- K05W00E 2005 WE (arc=3 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 30.08-11p3)
- K05V00Q 2005 VQ (arc=4 opp, H=18.9 ~562m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 30.01-03p3)
- K05GC0C 2005 GC120 (arc=6 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Balzaretto Obs. (Dec. 11.89p4)
- K04B01V 2004 BV1 (arc=2 opp, H=19.5 ~426m) from LINEAR (Dec. 12.20-25p5)
- K03SM2V 2003 SV222 (arc=4 opp, H=17.6 ~1.02 km) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 30.13-15p3)
- J99XE1M 1999 XM141 (arc=2 opp, H=19.5 ~426m) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Dec. 4.19-21p3)
- P6412 256412 2007 BT2 from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 29.90-91p3)
- P2091 252091 2000 UP30 from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 29.76-77p5)
- H0086 170086 2002 XR14 from MLS (Dec. 12.52-53p4)
- E1498 141498 2002 EZ16 from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 29.78-79p5)
- D8852 138852 2000 WN10 from Jarnac Obs. (Dec. 12.11-14p3)
- 04954 4954 Eric (1990 SQ) from Crni Vrh Obs. (Dec. 12.14-18p4)
- 03838 3838 Epona (1986 WA) from Schiaparelli Obs. (Nov. 29.75-81p3) and MLS (Dec. 12.09-11p4)
- 03288 3288 Seleucus (1982 DV) from LINEAR (Dec. 12.40-45p5)
- 01620 1620 Geographos (1951 RA) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 11.20-21p3)
MPEC 2010-X102 - "01:52 UT" - Comet P/2010 W1 (Gibbs)
- PK10W010 P/2010 W1 (Gibbs) (q=2.097 AU, Q=9.576 AU, TP=1996 Dec. 13.04847 TT) from MLS (Oct. 30.18-19p4, Nov. 10.20-22p4 & Dec. 2.13-14p4) and CSS (Nov. 27.19-25p11)
Observers on 13 December '10
A total of 23 observers appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| J16 | An Carraig Obs. in Northern Ireland, 1 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 JL33 |
| H21 | Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield in Illinois, 8 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 VW75, 2010 SJ15, 2010 RR80, 2010 PS65, 2010 PQ2, 2010 LU108, 2009 JO2, 2007 XB10 |
| A81 | Balzaretto Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 TM3, 2005 GC120 |
| 160 | Castelmartini Obs. in Italy, 12 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 XO10, 2010 XE11, 2010 XA24, 2010 WZ8, 2010 WL, 2010 WJ, 2010 VK188, 2010 TM3, 2010 RF181, 2010 LR68, 2010 JL33, 1620 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 5 in MPECs 2010-X102, 2010-X103, 2010-X106 & 2010-X108 -- 2010 XZ58, 2010 XX58, 2010 XG3, P/2010 W1, 2010 LY63 |
| 176 | Consell Obs. in Spain, 1 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 XT45 |
| 106 | Crni Vrh Obs. in Slovenia, 1 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 4954 |
| 595 | Farra d'Isonzo Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2010-X106 -- 2010 XX58 |
| 203 | GiaGa Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 XT45 |
| 253 | Goldstone DSS-14 70m antenna in southern California, 1 in radar -- 2010 JL33 |
| G92 | Jarnac Obs. in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 138852 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 7 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 XG25, 2010 LR68, 2010 KH, 2008 YU32, 2006 VB14, 2004 BV1, 3288 |
| H01 | Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) in New Mexico, 6 in MPECs 2010-X104, 2010-X105, 2010-X106, 2010-X107, 2010-X108 & 2010-X109 -- 2010 XZ58, 2010 XY58, 2010 XX58, 2010 XW58, 2010 XV58, 2010 XA59 |
| B90 | Malina River Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPECs 2010-X103 & 2010-X106 -- 2010 XX58, 2010 XM56 |
| G96 | Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 9 in MPECs 2010-X102, 2010-X103, 2010-X104, 2010-X105, 2010-X107 & 2010-X109 -- 2010 XY58, 2010 XW58, 2010 XV58, 2010 XA59, P/2010 W1, 2010 UF7, 2008 BU2, 170086, 3838 |
| A24 | New Millennium Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2010-X106 -- 2010 XX58 |
| A53 | Peschiera del Garda Obs. in Italy, 4 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 WQ7, 2010 LF86, 2010 JL33, 2006 VB14 |
| H36 | Sandlot Obs. in Kansas, 2 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 XN25, 2010 WY8 |
| 204 | Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 15 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 XG25, 2010 XG, 2010 XA24, 2010 WG3, 2010 WF3, 2007 EM88, 2006 VB14, 2005 WE, 2005 VQ, 2003 SV222, 1999 XM141, 256412, 252091, 141498, 3838 |
| 587 | Sormano Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 XM56 |
| 291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 9 in MPECs 2010-X103 & 2010-X105 -- 2010 XW58, 2010 XR10, 2010 XG25, 2010 XC25, 2010 XB24, 2010 XB11, 2010 WZ8, 2010 VT11, 2010 VA76 |
| C36 | Starry Wanderer Obs., 1 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 JL33 |
| 6734 | Mike Hicks via Table Mtn. Obs. in southern California, 1 in MPEC 2010-X103 -- 2010 JL33 |
| For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. | |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 13 December '10
| 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 |
| 2010 XA59 | JPL Sentry | 1715 | 2012-2108 | 36 | 4.3e-08 | -5.99 | -6.01 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 15 observations spanning .08633 days (2010-Dec-13.448 to 2010-Dec-13.53433)." Diameter approximately 0.041 km. from mean, weighted H=24.6. |
| 2010 XW58 | JPL Sentry | 1715 | 2014-2105 | 24 | 5.7e-06 | -4.94 | -5.62 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 19 observations spanning 2.0240 days (2010-Dec-11.47391 to 2010-Dec-13.49793)." Diameter approximately 0.040 km. from mean, weighted H=24.6. |
| 2010 XO56 | NEODyS | 1557 | 2027-2087 | 20 | 1.25e-07 | -4.26 | -4.48 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 17 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2010-12-11.468 to 2010-12-12.471." |
| 2010 XC25 | JPL Sentry | 1557 | 2024-2097 | 40 | 2.3e-05 | -2.05 | -2.52 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 31 observations spanning 4.0181 days (2010-Dec-08.37716 to 2010-Dec-12.3953)." Diameter approximately 0.270 km. from mean, weighted H=20.5. |
| NEODyS | 1557 | 2024-2090 | 49 | 2.25e-05 | -2.07 | -2.55 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 31 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2010-12-08.378 to 2010-12-12.396." | |
| 2008 EF85 | JPL Sentry | 1557 | 2110 | 4 | 2.5e-07 | -7.79 | -7.98 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 8 observations spanning 2.1314 days (2008-Mar-13.31126 to 2008-Mar-15.44269)." Diameter approximately 0.016 km. from mean, weighted H=26.7. |
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 13 December '10
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 2304 | Noted Radar Astrometry database update - see above |
| 1715 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2010 XA59 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2010 XW58 as an impact risk - see above |
| 1557 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2008 EF85 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2010 XC25 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2010 XC25 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has posted 2010 XO56 as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X103 - Daily Orbit Update - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X104 - 2010 XV58 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X105 - 2010 XW58 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X106 - 2010 XX58 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X107 - 2010 XY58 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X108 - 2010 XZ58 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X109 - 2010 XA59 - see above |
| 0309 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-X102 - Comet P/2010 W1 (Gibbs) - see above |
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