The Carnegie Institution of Washington reports that it appears the parent body from which 2008 TC3 orginated was "heated to the point of melting and then cooled into crystals so quickly that the oxygen isotopes present could not come to an equilibrium distribution throughout." This photo, courtesy of NASA/SETI, shows one fragment (of hundreds) in place where found in Sudan. See more pictures and info here, NASA has a news item, and "Fire in the Nubian Sky" is a good read.
Contents on 16 December '10
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- eleven listings: 1 new, 10 updated
- New MPECs -- eight MPECs
- Observers -- seventeen observers
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- three objects
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page
Of 390 risk-listed objects, 352 have had news in the last 31 days. Updated at 1906 UTC on 16 Dec. - Earth's Busy Neighborhood Traffic Report
Six objects are known to be within ten LD of Earth today. Updated at 1749 UTC on 16 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 16 December '10
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 11 listings: 1 new, 10 updated
When last checked at 2359 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had one new and ten updated listings. Of these, five were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of nineteen 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 16 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-Y01 time-stamped "04:55 UT" - 2010 XL69 - see below
- MPEC 2010-Y02 time-stamped "05:16 UT" - 2010 XM69 - see below
- MPEC 2010-Y03 time-stamped "06:02 UT" - 2010 XN69 - see below
- MPEC 2010-Y04 time-stamped "06:13 UT" - 2010 XO69 - see below
- MPEC 2010-Y05 time-stamped "07:09 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2010-Y06 time-stamped "16:14 UT" - 2010 XP69 - see below
- MPEC 2010-Y07 time-stamped "16:33 UT" - 2010 XQ69 - see below
- MPEC 2010-Y08 time-stamped "16:40 UT" - 2010 XR69
MPEC 2010-Y08 - "16:40 UT" - 2010 XR69
- K10X69R 2010 XR69 (small asteroid, Earth MOID=1.2 LD, H=25.4 ~28m) from LINEAR (Dec. 14.26-31p5) and the Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) (Dec. 15.45p3 & 16.16p3)
MPEC 2010-Y07 - "16:33 UT" - 2010 XQ69
- K10X69Q 2010 XQ69 (risk-listed, Earth MOID=3.1 LD, H=22.9 ~89m) from MLS (Dec. 14.24-31p8, 15.26-27p3 & 16.17-19p5) and Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) (Dec. 14.30-33p4)
MPEC 2010-Y06 - "16:14 UT" - 2010 XP69
- K10X69P 2010 XP69 (Earth MOID=4.9 LD, H=21.1 ~204m) from WISE (Dec. 8.62p1, 8.75p1, 8.89p1, 9.15p1, 9.22p1, 9.28p1, 9.35p1, 9.42p1, 9.48p1, 9.55p1, 9.61p1, 9.68p1, 9.81p1, 9.88p1, 9.94p1, 10.01p1, 10.08p1, 10.14p1, 10.28p1, 10.41p1, 10.54p1, 10.67p1, 10.80p1 & 10.94p1) and Joseph Masiero via Gemini South Obs. (Dec. 15.18-19p12)
<< DOU on 16 Dec. '10 >> MPEC 2010-Y05 - "07:09 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K10X25C 2010 XC25 (arc=7 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope (Dec. 15.29p3)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K10X56O 2010 XO56 (i=40.6°, arc=4 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.36p2)
- K10X25D 2010 XD25 (arc=6 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield (Dec. 14.41p3)
- K10W08Z 2010 WZ8 (arc=16 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) (Dec. 15.42-44p3)
- K10VE0B 2010 VB140 (almost small, arc=29 days, H=21.8 ~148m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.28-29p4)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K10X58Z 2010 XZ58 (arc=1 day, H=23.5 ~68m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.44-45p7)
- K10X58V 2010 XV58 (arc=3 days, H=25.3 ~29m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.20-24p3 at V=21.8-22.2)
- K10X56N 2010 XN56 (arc=4 days, H=24.5 ~43m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.33-36p3)
- K10X25N 2010 XN25 (arc=5 days, H=25.0 ~34m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.17-18p3)
- K10X25G 2010 XG25 (arc=5 days, H=24.8 ~37m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.31-33p4)
- K10X25B 2010 XB25 (arc=7 days, H=24.3 ~47m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.13-15p6)
- K10X25A 2010 XA25 (arc=6 days, H=26.8 ~15m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.29p2)
- K10W07R 2010 WR7 (arc=17 days, H=23.5 ~68m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.01-03p4)
- K10W03G 2010 WG3 (arc=17 days, H=22.6 ~102m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.19p3)
- K10V21S 2010 VS21 (arc=38 days, H=24.1 ~51m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.25-28p3 at V=22.0-22.2)
- Observations of almost-small asteroids (21.7<H<=22.0)
- K10X24B 2010 XB24 (arc=8 days, H=21.8 ~148m) from MLS (Dec. 15.17-19p4)
- Observations of other objects
- K10X56L 2010 XL56 (arc=4 days, H=21.4 ~178m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.06-10p3 at V=21.6-22.3)
- K10X52K 2010 XK52 (arc=4 days, H=17.9 ~891m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.49p3)
- K10X51T 2010 XT51 (i=36.1°, arc=6 days, H=20.1 ~323m) from MLS (Dec. 9.32-34p4, 9.42p4, 10.28-29p3 & 15.27-29p4) and the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Dec. 11.23-24p2)
- K10X25E 2010 XE25 (arc=7 days, H=21.2 ~195m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.32-33p3)
- K10X24C 2010 XC24 (i=38.8°, arc=8 days, H=19.7 ~389m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.37-38p4)
- K10X15C 2010 XC15 (arc=9 days, H=21.4 ~178m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.12-13p4)
- K10X11G 2010 XG11 (arc=9 days, H=19.9 ~355m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.15-17p3)
- K10X10O 2010 XO10 (arc=11 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.33-35p6)
- K10X03G 2010 XG3 (arc=12 days, H=21.7 ~155m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.22p7)
- K10W07Q 2010 WQ7 (arc=17 days, H=18.1 ~812m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.18-20p6)
- K10W00L 2010 WL (arc=26 days, H=20.0 ~339m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.35-36p6)
- K10VJ0Y 2010 VY190 (arc=212 days, H=19.2 ~490m) from CSS (Dec. 15.28-29p4)
- K10VD9Y 2010 VY139 (Q=4.113 AU, arc=30 days, H=20.6 ~257m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.46-47p3)
- K10V39X 2010 VX39 (arc=40 days, H=19.4 ~446m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.42p3)
- K10T47C 2010 TC47 (arc=69 days, H=20.4 ~282m) from CSS (Dec. 15.14-16p4)
- K10T03M 2010 TM3 (arc=2 opp, H=20.6 ~257m) from Jaen Obs. (Dec. 15.79-82p2)
- K10OA1L 2010 OL101 (Q=4.171 AU, arc=132 days, H=20.4 ~282m) from David Tholen's team on Mauna Kea (Dec. 6.27-28p3 at R=24.2)
- K10OA1F 2010 OF101 (arc=136 days, H=19.8 ~371m) from Tholen team/Mauna Kea (Dec. 6.25p3 at R=21.7-22.1)
- K10M00R 2010 MR (arc=174 days, H=18.6 ~645m) from Tholen team/Mauna Kea (Dec. 6.19p3 & 7.19p3)
- K10L68R 2010 LR68 (Q=4.878 AU, arc=2 opp, H=18.4 ~708m) from ARO Westfield (Dec. 14.38-40p4)
- K10J88F 2010 JF88 (arc=2 opp, H=18.6 ~645m) from MLS (Dec. 15.31-33p4)
- K10J33L 2010 JL33 (Q=4.634 AU, arc=4 opp, H=17.6 ~1.02 km) from Odessa-Mayaki Obs. (Dec. 10.74-78p43, 11.85-87p28 & 12.93-95p19), Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Dec. 14.39p3 & 14.45-46p6), and Castelmartini Obs. (Dec. 15.77-78p3 & 15.86-87p4)
- K06W02Y 2006 WY2 (arc=5 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from LINEAR (Dec. 15.14-20p5)
- K06V14B 2006 VB14 (arc=3 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Dec. 14.53-54p7)
- K05GC0C 2005 GC120 (arc=6 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Dec. 14.49-52p3)
- K04Y23Z 2004 YZ23 (i=56.1°, Q=5.745 AU, arc=3 opp, H=15.1 ~3.23 km, q=1.108 AU) from CSS (Dec. 15.22-24p4)
- K04Q24T 2004 QT24 (arc=4 opp, H=18.3 ~741m) from MLS (Dec. 15.11-13p4)
- K03M04J 2003 MJ4 (arc=2 opp, H=18.9 ~562m) from AZT-8 Evpatoria (Dec. 4.85-92p6)
- K02RC6B 2002 RB126 (arc=6 opp, H=18.7 ~616m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.46-47p3)
- K02K03L 2002 KL3 (arc=4 opp, H=18.1 ~812m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.45-46p3)
- K00A06C 2000 AC6 (arc=4 opp, H=21.5 ~170m) from Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Dec. 14.63-66p6)
- J99X35R 1999 XR35 (arc=4 opp, H=17.9 ~891m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.20-21p3) and MLS (Dec. 15.29-33p8)
- J99P01J 1999 PJ1 (arc=4 opp, H=18.0 ~851m) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.39-40p3)
- P2399 252399 2001 TX44 from MLS (Dec. 15.11-13p4)
- L0012 210012 2006 KT1 from MLS (Dec. 15.34-36p4)
- F2931 152931 2000 EA107 from La Sagra Obs. (Dec. 15.23-26p3)
- E1498 141498 2002 EZ16 from CSS (Dec. 15.20-22p4)
- 68278 68278 2001 FC7 from CSS (Dec. 15.22-24p4)
- 40267 40267 1999 GJ4 from CSS (Dec. 15.48-50p4)
- 23183 23183 2000 OY21 from LINEAR (Dec. 15.48-54p5)
- 11405 11405 1999 CV3 from LINEAR (Dec. 15.14-18p4)
- 05869 5869 Tanith (1988 VN4) from LINEAR (Dec. 15.14-19p5)
- 01864 1864 Daedalus (1971 FA) from La Sagra Obs. (Dec. 15.05-07p3)
MPEC 2010-Y04 - "06:13 UT" - 2010 XO69
- K10X69O 2010 XO69 (small asteroid, Earth MOID=0.6 LD, H=27.1 ~13m) from MLS (Dec. 15.27-29p4, 15.34-37p7 & 16.13p4) This object will be coming within ten lunar distances (LD) of Earth, reaching 2.9 LD on 23 Dec.
MPEC 2010-Y03 - "06:02 UT" - 2010 XN69
- K10X69N 2010 XN69 (risk-listed, Earth MOID=0.5 LD, H=26.2 ~19m) from MLS (Dec. 15.24-25p4, 15.30-34p7 & 16.13-14p4) This object will be coming within ten lunar distances (LD) of Earth, reaching 6.8 LD on 23 Dec.
MPEC 2010-Y02 - "05:16 UT" - 2010 XM69
- K10X69M 2010 XM69 (i=43.9°, H=19.2 ~490m) from CSS (Dec. 14.24-27p4), MRO (Dec. 14.30-33p4), ARO Westfield (Dec. 15.07-08p3), Spacewatch 0.9m (Dec. 15.20-21p3), and MLS (Dec. 15.29-33p8 & 16.17p4)
MPEC 2010-Y01 - "04:55 UT" - 2010 XL69
- K10X69L 2010 XL69 (H=19.3 ~467m) from MLS (Dec. 14.35-40p8, 15.38p4 & 16.18-19p4) and Libbiano Obs. (Dec. 16.07-09p4)
Observers on 16 December '10
Seventeen observers appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| B17 | AZT-8 Evpatoria in the Ukraine, 1 in MPEC 2010-Y05 -- 2003 MJ4 |
| H21 | Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield in Illinois, 24 in MPECs 2010-Y02 & 2010-Y05 -- 2010 XZ58, 2010 XV58, 2010 XO10, 2010 XN56, 2010 XN25, 2010 XM69, 2010 XL56, 2010 XK52, 2010 XG3, 2010 XG25, 2010 XG11, 2010 XD25, 2010 XC24, 2010 XC15, 2010 XB25, 2010 XA25, 2010 WR7, 2010 WQ7, 2010 WL, 2010 WG3, 2010 VY139, 2010 VS21, 2010 VB140, 2010 LR68 |
| 160 | Castelmartini Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2010-Y05 -- 2010 JL33 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 8 in MPECs 2010-Y02 & 2010-Y05 -- 2010 XM69, 2010 WZ8, 2010 VY190, 2010 TC47, 2004 YZ23, 68278, 40267, 141498 |
| I114 | Joseph Masiero in southern California via Gemini South Obs. in Chile, 1 in MPEC 2010-Y06 -- 2010 XP69 |
| 379 | Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. in Japan, 4 in MPEC 2010-Y05 -- 2010 JL33, 2006 VB14, 2005 GC120, 2000 AC6 |
| J28 | Jaen Obs. in Spain, 1 in MPEC 2010-Y05 -- 2010 TM3 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 5 in MPECs 2010-Y05 & 2010-Y08 -- 2010 XR69, 2006 WY2, 23183, 11405, 5869 |
| J75 | La Sagra Obs. in Spain, 2 in MPEC 2010-Y05 -- 152931, 1864 |
| B33 | Libbiano Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2010-Y01 -- 2010 XL69 |
| H01 | Magdalena Ridge Obs. (MRO) in New Mexico, 2 in MPECs 2010-Y02 & 2010-Y07 -- 2010 XQ69, 2010 XM69 |
| 5682 | David Tholen's team on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, 3 in MPEC 2010-Y05 -- 2010 OL101, 2010 OF101, 2010 MR |
| G96 | Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 13 in MPECs 2010-Y01, 2010-Y02, 2010-Y03, 2010-Y04, 2010-Y05, 2010-Y07 & 2010-Y08 -- 2010 XT51, 2010 XR69, 2010 XQ69, 2010 XO69, 2010 XN69, 2010 XM69, 2010 XL69, 2010 XB24, 2010 JF88, 2004 QT24, 1999 XR35, 252399, 210012 |
| 583 | Odessa-Mayaki Obs. in the Ukraine, 1 in MPEC 2010-Y05 -- 2010 JL33 |
| 691 | Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 9 in MPECs 2010-Y02 & 2010-Y05 -- 2010 XO56, 2010 XM69, 2010 XE25, 2010 XC25, 2010 VX39, 2002 RB126, 2002 KL3, 1999 XR35, 1999 PJ1 |
| 291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2010-Y05 -- 2010 XT51 |
| C51 | WISE in Earth polar orbit, 1 in MPEC 2010-Y06 -- 2010 XP69 |
| For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. | |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 16 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 XQ69 | JPL Sentry | 1904 | 2071-2108 | 10 | 3.7e-08 | -6.50 | -6.59 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 20 observations spanning 1.9501 days (2010-Dec-14.24058 to 2010-Dec-16.19073)." Diameter approximately 0.089 km. from mean, weighted H=22.9. |
| 2010 XN69 | JPL Sentry | 1624 | 2020-2110 | 124 | 6.4e-05 | -4.95 | -6.14 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 15 observations spanning .89999 days (2010-Dec-15.23581 to 2010-Dec-16.1358)." Diameter approximately 0.018 km. from mean, weighted H=26.3. |
| NEODyS | 1624 | 2020-2090 | 78 | 3.84e-05 | -5.13 | -6.2 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 15 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2010-12-15.237 to 2010-12-16.137." | |
| 2010 XC25 | JPL Sentry | 1624 | 2024-2050 | 13 | 2.3e-06 | -3.14 | -3.64 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 43 observations spanning 6.9164 days (2010-Dec-08.37716 to 2010-Dec-15.29353)." Diameter approximately 0.265 km. from mean, weighted H=20.6. |
| NEODyS | 1624 | 2024-2090 | 41 | 1.78e-05 | -2.50 | -3.13 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 43 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2010-12-08.378 to 2010-12-15.294." | |
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 16 December '10
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 1904 | Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2010 XQ69 as an impact risk - see above |
| 1800 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-Y07 - 2010 XQ69 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-Y08 - 2010 XR69 - see above |
| 1624 | 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 posted 2010 XN69 as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has posted 2010 XN69 as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-Y05 - Daily Orbit Update - see above Grabbed MPEC 2010-Y06 - 2010 XP69 - see above |
| 0718 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-Y04 - 2010 XO69 - see above |
| 0609 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-Y03 - 2010 XN69 - see above |
| 0540 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-Y02 - 2010 XM69 - see above |
| 0511 | Grabbed MPEC 2010-Y01 - 2010 XL69 - see above |
Publisher information, privacy statement, and disclaimer.
This page is © Copyright 2010 Columbine, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
Any mentioned trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Various tabular formats and data used on this page are acknowledged as belonging to JPL, MPC, NEODyS, and/or others.
Do NOT copy, mirror, or embed this page, but you are welcome to link to it, and you may embed the RSS news feed. All information here is subject to very frequent change during the day of news compilation. Individuals may make copies for their own private, non-commercial use. Please report broken links or other problems with this page to <webmaster@hohmanntransfer.com> (HTML 4.01 validation).
Important news updates are flagged by A/CC's RSS news feed (link).