NASA reports that, out beyond 115 AU, where only 90377 Sedna, long-period comets, and a few dozen "scattered disk" objects are known to travel, Voyager 1 has been passing through a region for several months now where solar wind speed is zero. It is believed that the heliosheath hasn't been crossed yet and interstellar space is four years' flight away. Illustration credit: NASA/JPL.
Contents on 15 December '10
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- 14 listings: 2 new, 12 updated
- New MPECs -- seven MPECs
- Observers -- eighteen observers
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- four objects
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page
Of 389 risk-listed objects, 351 have had news in the last 31 days. Updated at 1836 UTC on 15 Dec. - Earth's Busy Neighborhood Traffic Report
Six objects are known to be within ten LD of Earth today. Updated at 1720 UTC on 15 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.
NEOCP Activity on 15 December '10
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 14 listings: 2 new, 12 updated
When last checked at 2359 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had two new and twelve updated listings. Of these, six were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of eighteen listings on the NEOCP at some point 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 15 December '10
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2359 UTC, there have been seven MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2010-X111 time-stamped "00:15 UT" - 2010 XF64 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X112 time-stamped "00:25 UT" - 2010 XG64 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X113 time-stamped "05:55 UT" - 2010 XZ67 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X114 time-stamped "05:59 UT" - 2010 XA68 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X115 time-stamped "07:09 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2010-X116 time-stamped "17:03 UT" - 2003 WP7 = 2010 XK3 - see below
- MPEC 2010-X117 time-stamped "17:08 UT" - 2003 WP7 = 2010 WD3 = 2010 XK3
MPEC 2010-X117 - "17:08 UT" - 2003 WP7 = 2010 WD3 = 2010 XK3
- K03W07P 2003 WP7 (small asteroid, Earth MOID=0.7 LD, H=23.2 ~78m)
MPEC 2010-X116 - "17:03 UT" - 2003 WP7 = 2010 XK3
- K03W07P 2003 WP7 (small asteroid, Earth MOID=0.7 LD, H=23.3 ~74m)
<< DOU on 15 Dec. '10 >> MPEC 2010-X115 - "07:09 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K10X59A 2010 XA59 (small asteroid, arc=1 day, H=24.9 ~35m) from Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield (Dec. 14.37-39p4) and Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) (Dec. 14.43-46p4)
- K10X56O 2010 XO56 (i=40.9°, arc=3 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Dec. 14.36-37p3) and ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.47-48p4)
- K10X25C 2010 XC25 (arc=6 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 14.32p3) and ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.43-44p3)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K10X00J 2010 XJ (arc=14 days, H=19.6 ~407m) from the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope (Dec. 14.16-17p3 & 15.09-14p6)
- K10W08Z 2010 WZ8 (arc=15 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 13.14p5) and LINEAR (Dec. 14.39-44p5)
- F3814 153814 2001 WN5 from LINEAR (Dec. 14.13-17p4)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K10X58Z 2010 XZ58 (arc=1 day, H=23.5 ~68m) from the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) (Dec. 14.40p3)
- K10X56M 2010 XM56 (arc=4 days, H=25.0 ~34m) from Los Molinos Obs. (Dec. 14.16p5)
- K10X25B 2010 XB25 (arc=7 days, H=24.2 ~49m) from El Gato Gris Obs. (Dec. 15.04-05p3)
- K10X03F 2010 XF3 (arc=12 days, H=24.4 ~45m) from LINEAR (Dec. 14.06-10p4), ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.15-16p3), and CSS (Dec. 14.24-27p3)
- K10W07R 2010 WR7 (arc=17 days, H=23.5 ~68m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.10-11p4)
- K10M01Y 2010 MY1 (arc=7 days, H=23.9 ~56m) from WISE (June 25.76p1)
- K10K10O 2010 KO10 (arc=3 days, H=26.8 ~15m) from Moletai Obs. (May 21.94p2)
- Observations of almost-small asteroids (21.7<H<=22.0)
- K10X24B 2010 XB24 (arc=7 days, H=21.9 ~141m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.20-21p5)
- Observations of other objects
- K10X58X 2010 XX58 (q=0.291 AU, Q=4.394 AU, arc=2 days, H=18.4 ~708m) from Eastern Illinois Univ. Obs. (Dec. 14.31p3)
- K10X51P 2010 XP51 (Q=4.334 AU, arc=3 days, H=18.2 ~776m) from LINEAR (Dec. 9.34-40p4, 10.34-39p5, 10.46-52p5 & 12.39-43p4)
- K10X45U 2010 XU45 (arc=6 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 14.34-38p3) and Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.25p2)
- K10X45T 2010 XT45 (arc=5 days, H=17.6 ~1.02 km) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.27-28p4)
- K10X24C 2010 XC24 (i=38.8°, arc=8 days, H=19.7 ~389m) from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 14.42-43p3) and Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.27-28p3)
- K10X15C 2010 XC15 (arc=9 days, H=21.4 ~178m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.13-14p4) and CSS (Dec. 14.16-18p4)
- K10X11G 2010 XG11 (arc=9 days, H=19.9 ~355m) from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 14.20-26p3)
- K10X03J 2010 XJ3 (arc=11 days, H=21.3 ~186m) from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 14.14-17p3)
- K10X03G 2010 XG3 (arc=12 days, H=21.7 ~155m) from LINEAR (Dec. 14.19-23p4) and Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 14.29-30p3)
- K10W08P 2010 WP8 (arc=2 opp, H=18.2 ~776m) from EIU Obs. (Dec. 15.01-02p4)
- K10W00L 2010 WL (arc=26 days, H=20.0 ~339m) from LINEAR (Dec. 14.19-25p5) and Jaen Obs. (Dec. 14.96-97p2)
- K10W00J 2010 WJ (arc=27 days, H=18.3 ~741m) from LINEAR (Dec. 14.32-37p5)
- K10VJ0Y 2010 VY190 (arc=211 days, H=19.3 ~467m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.17-18p5)
- K10VI8K 2010 VK188 (arc=2 opp, H=18.4 ~708m) from LINEAR (Dec. 14.26-31p5)
- K10V00Z 2010 VZ (arc=42 days, H=19.4 ~446m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.05-06p4)
- K10U08B 2010 UB8 (Q=4.853 AU, arc=48 days, H=19.7 ~389m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 14.54p3)
- K10T07J 2010 TJ7 (arc=69 days, H=19.7 ~389m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.07-09p3)
- K10S13D 2010 SD13 (Q=4.305 AU, arc=78 days, H=18.8 ~589m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.04p3)
- K10RH9R 2010 RR179 (Q=4.254 AU, arc=103 days, H=21.1 ~204m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.00-01p3)
- K10R80N 2010 RN80 (arc=95 days, H=20.2 ~309m) from ISON-NM Obs. (Dec. 14.49-50p3)
- K10OA1C 2010 OC101 (arc=144 days, H=20.8 ~234m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 14.30-31p3)
- K10L86F 2010 LF86 (arc=185 days, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 13.82p3)
- K10L68R 2010 LR68 from EIU Obs. (Dec. 14.30p4)
- K10K00H 2010 KH (Q=4.282 AU, arc=212 days, H=19.3 ~467m) from the Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) (Dec. 14.21-23p4)
- K10J33L 2010 JL33 (Q=4.634 AU, arc=4 opp, H=17.9 ~891m) from Mataro Obs. (Dec. 11.79-82p5), Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 13.80-83p8), Jaen Obs. (Dec. 14.84p3), and EIU Obs. (Dec. 15.08-09p4)
- K08F06T 2008 FT6 (arc=3 opp, H=17.5 ~1.07 km) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 14.47-48p3)
- K08E01J 2008 EJ1 (i=38.8°, arc=2 opp, H=15.8 ~2.34 km, q=0.981 AU) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 14.53-54p3)
- K07E88M 2007 EM88 (arc=3 opp, H=19.4 ~446m) from LINEAR (Dec. 14.26-31p5) and EIU Obs. (Dec. 14.28-29p4)
- K06V14B 2006 VB14 (arc=3 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from AAAA Buenos Aires Obs. (Dec. 14.13-15p3) and EIU Obs. (Dec. 15.10-11p4)
- K05W00E 2005 WE from EIU Obs. (Dec. 14.27-28p4)
- K05GC0C 2005 GC120 (arc=6 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Mataro Obs. (Dec. 11.78p3) and EIU Obs. (Dec. 15.02-03p4)
- K05C41F 2005 CF41 (arc=5 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 14.39-40p2)
- K04B01V 2004 BV1 (arc=2 opp, H=19.4 ~446m) from MLS (Dec. 14.35-37p4)
- K02O04S 2002 OS4 (arc=3 opp, H=18.3 ~741m) from EIU Obs. (Dec. 14.98-99p3)
- K00CA1R 2000 CR101 (arc=2 opp, H=20.1 ~323m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.41-45p3)
- K00A93Z 2000 AZ93 (arc=4 opp, H=20.6 ~257m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 14.42-46p3)
- K00A06C 2000 AC6 from EIU Obs. (Dec. 14.24p4)
- J99X35R 1999 XR35 (arc=4 opp, H=17.8 ~933m) from CSS (Dec. 14.24-27p4) and EIU Obs. (Dec. 15.04-07p4)
- J97X02S 1997 XS2 (Q=4.046 AU, arc=2 opp, H=19.3 ~467m) from LINEAR (Dec. 14.13-19p5)
- O7360 247360 2001 XU from WISE (June 25.12p1, 25.19p2 & 25.25p1)
- N1134 231134 2005 TU45 from CSS (Dec. 14.52-54p4)
- L9071 219071 1997 US9 from CSS (Dec. 14.13-15p4)
- H7255 177255 2003 WC25 from CSS (Dec. 14.43-45p4)
- H0086 170086 2002 XR14 from LINEAR (Dec. 14.40-45p4) and MLS (Dec. 14.50-52p4)
- G2421 162421 2000 ET70 from Desert Moon Obs. (Dec. 14.06-09p2)
- F4590 154590 2003 MA3 from WISE (June 26.44p1)
- D8859 138859 2000 WN63 from CSS (Dec. 14.33-35p3)
- A0926 100926 1998 MQ from CSS (Dec. 14.27-29p4)
- 86324 86324 1999 WA2 from LINEAR (Dec. 14.45-51p5)
- 68278 68278 2001 FC7 from LINEAR (Dec. 14.32-37p5)
- 11405 11405 1999 CV3 from CSS (Dec. 14.28-30p4)
- 05869 5869 Tanith (1988 VN4) from CSS (Dec. 14.28-29p4)
- 05496 5496 1973 NA from LINEAR (Dec. 14.32-38p5)
- 01864 1864 Daedalus (1971 FA) from CSS (Dec. 14.46-48p4)
MPEC 2010-X114 - "05:59 UT" - 2010 XA68
- K10X68A 2010 XA68 (risk-listed, i=61.2°, Earth MOID=7.4 LD, H=21.7 ~155m) from MLS (Dec. 14.06-08p4, 14.13-14p4, 14.20-21p4 & 15.22p3), MRO (Dec. 14.19-22p4), Spacewatch 1.8m (Dec. 14.23p3), and ARO Westfield (Dec. 15.13-14p3)
MPEC 2010-X113 - "05:55 UT" - 2010 XZ67
- K10X67Z 2010 XZ67 (H=19.3 ~467m) from WISE (Dec. 10.82p1, 10.95p1, 11.08p1, 11.15p1, 11.28p1, 11.35p1, 11.48p1, 11.61p1, 11.74p2, 11.81p1, 11.88p1, 11.94p1, 12.21p1 & 12.34p1), ARO Westfield (Dec. 15.04-06p5), MRO (Dec. 15.09-12p4), and Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.18-19p3)
MPEC 2010-X112 - "00:25 UT" - 2010 XG64
- K10X64G 2010 XG64 (small asteroid, H=27.9 ~9m) from MLS (Dec. 14.29-34p8 & 14.40p3) and MRO (Dec. 14.36-40p4)
MPEC 2010-X111 - "00:15 UT" - 2010 XF64
- K10X64F 2010 XF64 (small asteroid, Earth MOID=5.4 LD, H=26.6 ~16m) from MLS (Dec. 14.10-14p8 & 14.20-21p4) and MRO (Dec. 14.19-22p4) This object is now within ten lunar distances (LD) of Earth, reaching 6.5 LD on 16 Nov.
Observers on 15 December '10
Eighteen observers appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| 834 | AAAA Buenos Aires Obs. in Argentina, 1 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2006 VB14 |
| H21 | Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield in Illinois, 16 in MPECs 2010-X113, 2010-X114 & 2010-X115 -- 2010 XZ67, 2010 XT45, 2010 XO56, 2010 XF3, 2010 XC25, 2010 XC15, 2010 XB24, 2010 XA68, 2010 XA59, 2010 WR7, 2010 VZ, 2010 VY190, 2010 TJ7, 2010 SD13, 2010 RR179, 2000 CR101 |
| 160 | Castelmartini Obs. in Italy, 3 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 WZ8, 2010 LF86, 2010 JL33 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 12 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 XZ58, 2010 XF3, 2010 XC15, 1999 XR35, 231134, 219071, 177255, 138859, 11405, 100926, 5869, 1864 |
| 448 | Desert Moon Obs. in New Mexico, 6 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 XU45, 2010 XJ3, 2010 XG3, 2010 XG11, 2010 XC24, 162421 |
| H20 | Eastern Illinois Univ. Obs. in Illinois, 11 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 XX58, 2010 WP8, 2010 LR68, 2010 JL33, 2007 EM88, 2006 VB14, 2005 WE, 2005 GC120, 2002 OS4, 2000 AC6, 1999 XR35 |
| I19 | El Gato Gris Obs. in Argentina, 1 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 XB25 |
| H15 | ISON-NM Obs. in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 RN80 |
| J28 | Jaen Obs. in Spain, 2 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 WL, 2010 JL33 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 14 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 XP51, 2010 XG3, 2010 XF3, 2010 WZ8, 2010 WL, 2010 WJ, 2010 VK188, 2007 EM88, 1997 XS2, 86324, 68278, 170086, 153814, 5496 |
| 844 | Los Molinos Obs. in Uruguay, 1 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 XM56 |
| H01 | Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) in New Mexico, 5 in MPECs 2010-X111, 2010-X112, 2010-X113, 2010-X114 & 2010-X115 -- 2010 XZ67, 2010 XG64, 2010 XF64, 2010 XA68, 2010 XA59 |
| A06 | Mataro Obs. in Spain, 2 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 JL33, 2005 GC120 |
| 152 | Moletai Obs. in Lithuania, 1 in MPEC 2010-X115 -- 2010 KO10 |
| G96 | Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 6 in MPECs 2010-X111, 2010-X112, 2010-X114 & 2010-X115 -- 2010 XG64, 2010 XF64, 2010 XA68, 2010 KH, 2004 BV1, 170086 |
| 691 | Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 6 in MPECs 2010-X113 & 2010-X115 -- 2010 XZ67, 2010 XU45, 2010 XJ, 2010 XC24, 2010 UB8, 2000 AZ93 |
| 291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 7 in MPECs 2010-X114 & 2010-X115 -- 2010 XO56, 2010 XC25, 2010 XA68, 2010 OC101, 2008 FT6, 2008 EJ1, 2005 CF41 |
| C51 | WISE in Earth polar orbit, 4 in MPECs 2010-X113 & 2010-X115 -- 2010 XZ67, 2010 MY1, 247360, 154590 |
| For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. | |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 15 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 XA68 | JPL Sentry | 1600 | 2020-2108 | 55 | 7.8e-07 | -3.94 | -4.33 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 25 observations spanning 1.1563 days (2010-Dec-14.06285 to 2010-Dec-15.21919)." Diameter approximately 0.150 km. from mean, weighted H=21.7. |
| NEODyS | 1600 | 2024-2087 | 27 | 2.7e-07 | -4.15 | -4.39 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 25 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2010-12-14.064 to 2010-12-15.220." | |
| 2010 XA59 | NEODyS | 1600 | R E M O V E D | - | |||||
| JPL Sentry | 1600 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 1112 UTC. | ||||||
| 2010 XO56 | JPL Sentry | 1600 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 1123 UTC. | |||||
| 2010 XC25 | JPL Sentry | 1600 | 2024-2093 | 32 | 2.0e-05 | -2.22 | -2.75 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 40 observations spanning 6.0649 days (2010-Dec-08.37716 to 2010-Dec-14.442071)." Diameter approximately 0.262 km. from mean, weighted H=20.6. |
| NEODyS | 1600 | 2024-2090 | 38 | 2.1e-05 | -2.19 | -2.73 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 40 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2010-12-08.378 to 2010-12-14.443." | |
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 15 December '10
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 1733 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-X116 - 2003 WP7 = 2010 XK3 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X117 - 2003 WP7 = 2010 WD3 = 2010 XK3 - see above |
| 1600 | Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2010 XA59 as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has removed 2010 XA59 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2010 XA68 as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has posted 2010 XA68 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 JPL Sentry has removed 2010 XO56 as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X115 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
| 0603 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-X113 - 2010 XZ67 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-X114 - 2010 XA68 - see above |
| 0100 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-X112 - 2010 XG64 - see above |
| 0028 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-X111 - 2010 XF64 - see above |
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