The NASA/JPL NEO Program Office yesterday announced its new Near-Earth Object Human Space Flight Accessible Targets Study (NHATS) Web site. See the intro, default table, and complete list in ascending object designation order. Illustration of an astronaut exploring a small asteroid, credit NASA/JPL NEOPO.
Contents on 21 March '12
- Traffic Report -- five objects
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- 15 listings
- New MPECs -- three MPECs
- Observers -- nineteen observers
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- three objects
- Chronology
Asteroid/Comet Connection (A/CC) Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page (archive)
Of 457 risk-listed objects, 38 have had news in the last 31 days. Updated at 1627 UTC on 21 March.
- Ephemerides for risk-rated & nearby objects + potential mission destinations
- News image catalog
- News old archive & Small Objects Archive
- Object Links - mainly for radar targets & close passers - updated 12 March
- Observing Campaigns
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.
Traffic Report on 21 March '12
Five objects reported inside ten LD
Five asteroids are reported traveling within ten lunar distances (LD) of Earth today. Inside Earth's Hill sphere, 2012 EO8 comes its closest to Earth on this passage, reaching 3.60 LD at 1711 UTC. Further away, risk-listed 2012 EK5 comes in from 7.14 to 5.86 LD, while 2012 EL8 is outbound from 8.0 to 8.3 LD* and 2012 EJ5 from 9.17 to 9.94 LD, and 2012 FM departs from inside ten LD, passing from 9.39 to 10.21 LD.
Coming toward Earth, radar target intruder 2012 EG5 arrives inside ten LD on March 27th and 2007 HV4 comes inside on April 14th.
This report was posted at 1629 UTC with follow-up in today's DOU MPEC for 2012 EO8 and 2012 EG5.
Notes: Ten times the distance to the Moon (ten LD) has no astronomical significance but is a useful reporting boundary. Earth's Hill sphere (of gravitational influence) is estimated to extend out to around 3.89 LD. Object distances are interpreted by A/CC from JPL Horizons data. "LD*" indicates some passage uncertainty. See also current sky chart and object details (alt-details), ephemerides, and today's timeline.
NEOCP Activity on 21 March '12
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 15 listings
When last checked at 2359 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had fifteen objects listed. Of these, thirteen were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of seventeen listings on the NEOCP 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 21 March '12
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2359 UTC, there have been three MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2012-F45 time-stamped "03:37 UT" - 2011 HS4 - see below
- MPEC 2012-F46 time-stamped "03:52 UT" - 2007 DS84 - see below
- MPEC 2012-F47 time-stamped "06:03 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
<< DOU on 21 Mar. '12 >> MPEC 2012-F47 - "06:03 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K12F01R 2012 FR1 (arc=4 days, H=18.9 ~562m) from Robert Holmes via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) (March 20.40-41p3)
- K12F01Q 2012 FQ1 (Q=4.251 AU, arc=3 days, H=18.8 ~589m) from Marco Micheli via Faulkes Telescope North (March 19.27-30p3)
- K12E00C 2012 EC (small asteroid, arc=17 days, H=23.6 ~65m, PMD candidate) from David Tholen's team on Mauna Kea (March 18.54-55p2)
- 99942 99942 Apophis (2004 MN4) (PMD) from Saint-Barthelemy Obs. (March 14.82-84p3)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K12E05G 2012 EG5 (small asteroid, arc=8 days, H=24.2 ~49m, close passer, radar support) from Kevin Hills via RAS Obs. Moorook (March 20.48-49p2), Bisei Spaceguard Center (March 20.48-49p5), and KLENOT (March 20.84-85p5)
- K12D61G 2012 DG61 (Q=5.650 AU, arc=21 days, H=18.0 ~851m) from Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) (March 20.35-36p7)
- Observations of close-passing objects
- K12E08O 2012 EO8 (arc=5 days, H=24.3 ~47m, close passer) from Dresden Obs. (March 19.83p3) and Bisei (March 20.46p5)
- Observation campaigns (radar support, potential mission destinations)
- F3814 153814 2001 WN5 (PMD) from PS1 (March 20.36-41p4)
- E1018 141018 2001 WC47 (PMD, radar) from Castelmartini Obs. (March 19.87-88p3)
- D6618 136618 1994 CN2 (PMD) from Doc Greiner Research Obs. Rancho Hildalgo (DGRO-RH) (March 21.12p3)
-- Potential mission destinations list & ephemerides + NHATS -- Planetary radar schedules: Arecibo & Goldstone - Observations of small (H>22.0) & smallish (21.7<H<=22.0) asteroids
- K12E08K 2012 EK8 (arc=7 days, H=23.7 ~62m) from Dresden Obs. (March 19.86-87p3), Bisei (March 20.65-66p5), Eschenberg Obs. (March 20.79p3), Klet Obs. (March 20.91-92p5), and DGRO-RH (March 21.12p6)
- K12D08O 2012 DO8 (arc=28 days, H=22.4 ~112m) from Guidestar Obs. (March 20.88-91p3)
- K12B77K 2012 BK77 (arc=54 days, H=22.4 ~112m) from PS1 (March 20.29-31p3)
- K12C55A 2012 CA55 (arc=49 days, H=21.8 ~148m) from Eschenberg Obs. (March 20.78p3), Drebach Obs. (March 20.78-80p3), Galati Obs. (March 20.82p2), Wishing Star Obs. (March 21.01-02p3), and DGRO-RH (March 21.11-12p4)
- Observations of other asteroidal objects
- K12E14U 2012 EU14 (arc=5 days, H=20.4 ~282m) from PS1 (March 20.37-40p3)
- K12E14S 2012 ES14 (Q=4.057 AU, arc=6 days, H=20.0 ~339m) from Holmes/CTIO (March 20.35-38p3)
- K12D75X 2012 DX75 (arc=21 days, H=20.4 ~282m) from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.03-07p4) and Guidestar Obs. (March 20.92-93p3)
- K12D61K 2012 DK61 (arc=27 days, H=21.0 ~214m) from Guidestar Obs. (March 20.84-86p3)
- K12D04H 2012 DH4 (arc=31 days, H=20.7 ~245m) from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.02-06p6) and Castelmartini Obs. (March 19.97-98p3)
- K12C17C 2012 CC17 (arc=2 opp, H=20.5 ~269m) from Wishing Star Obs. (March 21.03-04p3)
- K12B20C 2012 BC20 (arc=58 days, H=18.6 ~645m) from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.04-08p4)
- K12A23N 2012 AN23 (arc=79 days, H=18.9 ~562m) from PS1 (March 20.37-40p3)
- K11Y15V 2011 YV15 (Q=4.394 AU, arc=3 opp, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.03-07p4)
- K11SA2L 2011 SL102 (arc=3 opp, H=18.2 ~776m) from New Millennium Obs. (March 14.95p1 & 15.01p1)
- K08Y32U 2008 YU32 (arc=3 opp, H=20.2 ~309m) from PS1 (March 20.37-40p3 at w=21.9-22.1)
- K04Q07J 2004 QJ7 (arc=3 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from Galati Obs. (March 20.93-95p16)
- K01H08A 2001 HA8 (arc=5 opp, H=17.1 ~1.29 km) from PS1 (March 20.58-61p3)
- J98K03N 1998 KN3 (q=0.195 AU, arc=3 opp, H=18.4 ~708m) from Eschenberg Obs. (March 20.85-86p3)
- J98F14F 1998 FF14 (i=38.7°, arc=4 opp, H=20.7 ~245m) from PS1 (March 20.29-33p4)
- V7643 317643 2003 FH1 from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.05-09p4) and Castelmartini Obs. (March 19.98-99p3)
- V2942 312942 1995 EK1 from Castelmartini Obs. (March 19.99-00p3) and Wishing Star Obs. (March 21.08-09p3)
- U6595 306595 2000 GG147 from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.04-09p6) and PS1 (March 20.55-57p12)
- U2830 302830 2003 FB from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.05-09p6)
- R5558 275558 1999 RH33 from New Millennium Obs. (March 14.94p1 & 14.99p1) and Galati Obs. (March 20.89-90p3)
- Q7221 267221 2001 AD2 from Castelmartini Obs. (March 20.01p3) and Galati Obs. (March 20.91p3)
- Q3976 263976 2009 KD5 from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.03-07p4) and Castelmartini Obs. (March 19.96-97p3)
- N8063 238063 2003 EG from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.02-06p5)
- I4990 184990 2006 KE89 from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.05-10p6)
- H1819 171819 2001 FZ6 from New Millennium Obs. (March 14.97p2 & 15.01p1)
- G3000 163000 2001 SW169 from New Millennium Obs. (March 14.93p1 & 14.98p1)
- G2186 162186 1999 OP3 from Galati Obs. (March 20.80-81p17)
- G2038 162038 1996 DH from New Millennium Obs. (March 14.93-96p4)
- F5336 155336 2006 GA1 from Galati Obs. (March 20.86-87p3)
- F4555 154555 2003 HA from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.04-08p6)
- F2667 152667 1998 FR11 from PS1 (March 20.29-32p4)
- 68267 68267 2001 EA16 from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.03-07p6)
- 66251 66251 1999 GJ2 from MASTER-II Obs. Kislovodsk (March 19.76-79p2)
- 53319 53319 1999 JM8 from PS1 (March 20.29-32p4)
- 36183 36183 1999 TX16 from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.05-09p6)
- 21277 21277 1996 TO5 from New Millennium Obs. (March 14.96p1 & 15.01p1) and Galati Obs. (March 20.92-93p3)
- 20826 20826 2000 UV13 from Wishing Star Obs. (March 20.99-00p3)
- 09400 9400 1994 TW1 from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.02-07p4) and Galati Obs. (March 20.95-96p18)
- 06455 6455 1992 HE from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.04p2)
- 05620 5620 Jasonwheeler (1990 OA) from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.02-06p4)
- 04055 4055 Magellan (1985 DO2) from Galati Obs. (March 20.87-89p18)
- 03352 3352 McAuliffe (1981 CW) from New Millennium Obs. (March 15.04-08p4)
MPEC 2012-F46 - "03:52 UT" - 2007 DS84
- K07D84S 2007 DS84 (H=20.8 ~234m) from Christian Veillet on Mauna Kea (March 19.24p4 at r=22.5 & 20.22-23p4 at r=22.4)
MPEC 2012-F45 - "03:37 UT" - 2011 HS4
- K11H04S 2011 HS4 (q=0.300 AU, Earth MOID=2.4 LD, H=21.0 ~214m) from Veillet/Mauna Kea (March 19.64-65p3 at r=23.0 & 20.64p3 at r=23.0)
Observers on 21 March '12
Nineteen observers appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| 300 | Bisei Spaceguard Center in Japan, 3 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EO8, 2012 EK8, 2012 EG5 |
| 160 | Castelmartini Obs. in Italy, 6 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 DH4, 317643, 312942, 267221, 263976, 141018 |
| 807| | Robert Holmes in Illinois via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) in Chile, 2 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 FR1, 2012 ES14 |
| G48 | Doc Greiner Research Obs. Rancho Hildalgo (DGRO-RH) in New Mexico, 3 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EK8, 2012 CA55, 136618 |
| 113 | Drebach Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 CA55 |
| 639 | Dresden Obs. in Germany, 2 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EO8, 2012 EK8 |
| 151 | Eschenberg Obs. in Switzerland, 3 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EK8, 2012 CA55, 1998 KN3 |
| F659 | Marco Micheli in Hawaii via Faulkes Telescope North in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 FQ1 |
| C73 | Galati Obs. in Romania, 9 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 CA55, 2004 QJ7, 275558, 267221, 21277, 162186, 155336, 9400, 4055 |
| A17 | Guidestar Obs. in Germany, 3 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 DX75, 2012 DO8, 2012 DK61 |
| 246 | KLENOT in the Czech Republic, 1 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EG5 |
| 046 | Klet Obs. in the Czech Republic, 1 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EK8 |
| C41 | MASTER-II Obs. Kislovodsk in Russia, 1 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 66251 |
| 5682 | David Tholen's team on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EC |
| 5683 | Christian Veillet on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, 2 in MPECs 2012-F45 & 2012-F46 -- 2011 HS4, 2007 DS84 |
| A24 | New Millennium Obs. in Italy, 23 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 DX75, 2012 DH4, 2012 BC20, 2011 YV15, 2011 SL102, 68267, 36183, 317643, 306595, 302830, 275558, 263976, 238063, 21277, 184990, 171819, 163000, 162038, 154555, 9400, 6455, 5620, 3352 |
| F51 | Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) in Hawaii, 11 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EU14, 2012 DG61, 2012 BK77, 2012 AN23, 2008 YU32, 2001 HA8, 1998 FF14, 53319, 306595, 153814, 152667 |
| D90` | Kevin Hills in England via RAS Obs. Moorook in South Australia, 1 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 EG5 |
| B04 | Saint-Barthelemy Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 99942 |
| I15 | Wishing Star Obs. in Rhode Island, 4 in MPEC 2012-F47 -- 2012 CC17, 2012 CA55, 312942, 20826 |
| For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. | |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 21 March '12
| 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 |
| 2012 FR1 | JPL Sentry | 1626 | 2024-2073 | 13 | 6.5e-08 | -3.48 | -3.58 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 25 observations spanning 4.0096 days (2012-Mar-16.40434 to 2012-Mar-20.41398)." Diameter approximately 0.575 km. from mean, weighted H=18.8. |
| NEODyS | 1626 | 2024-2070 | 11 | 1.03e-08 | -4.30 | -4.52 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 25 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2012-03-16.405 to 2012-03-20.415." | |
| 2012 FQ1 | JPL Sentry | 1626 | 2021-2108 | 39 | 5.3e-07 | -3.18 | -3.58 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 20 observations spanning 3.1323 days (2012-Mar-16.16837 to 2012-Mar-19.300689)." Diameter approximately 0.522 km. from mean, weighted H=19.1. |
| NEODyS | 1626 | 2021-2071 | 13 | 2.03e-07 | -3.54 | -3.86 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 20 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2012-03-16.169 to 2012-03-19.301." | |
| 2012 EC | JPL Sentry | 1626 | 2083-2107 | 4 | 8.9e-06 | -4.79 | -4.93 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 74 observations spanning 17.210 days (2012-Mar-01.3419 to 2012-Mar-18.551899)." Diameter approximately 0.066 km. from mean, weighted H=23.5. |
| NEODyS | 1626 | 2049-2090 | 4 | 4.53e-07 | -5.98 | -6.2 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 74 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2012-03-01.343 to 2012-03-18.553." | |
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 21 March '12
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 1629 | Posted Traffic Report |
| 1626 | Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2012 EC risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2012 EC risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2012 FQ1 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2012 FQ1 risk assessment - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2012 FR1 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2012 FR1 risk assessment - see above Grabbed MPEC 2012-F47 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
| 0616 | Grabbed MPEC 2012-F45 - 2011 HS4 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2012-F46 - 2007 DS84 - see above |
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