Contents  on 24 December '20

CHANGES COMING:  The Asteroid/Comet Connection Web site will soon focus completely on Earth's Busy Neighborhood reporting. Sometime on or soon after Sunday, December 27th, much of the site will be retired.* The Tracking News will be discontinued and taken down entirely** along with its supporting timeline pages, the archives of its predecessor online publication, Major News About Minor Objects, and our even longer running Consolidated Risk Tables feature. Remaining will be Earth's Busy Neighborhood along with its sky chart, ephemerides, and some supporting pages (e.g. Observatory Links). We do plan to make the Web site easier to use, more interesting as regards close-passing asteroids, and more glitch-free while needing much, much less manual attention here than the current site. -- Webmaster

  *There may be some brief chaos when we take down the old site and put up the new. Please check back.
**You can still find the old files at the Internet Archive.

Asteroid/Comet Connection (A/CC) Resources:

The latest A/CC news is available via framed access, RSS news feed RSS news feed, or redirection.

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. To keep track of what's new each day, watch the Chronology section.

NEOCP Activity  on 24 December '20

The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 45 listings

When last checked at 2358 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had 45 objects listed. Of these, 33 were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of 66 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 24 December '20

Minor Planet Electronic Circulars

As of last check at 2358 UTC, there have been seventeen MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.


MPEC 2020-Y123 - "22:44 UT" - 2020 YZ3


MPEC 2020-Y122 - "22:43 UT" - 2020 YY3


MPEC 2020-Y121 - "22:42 UT" - 2020 YX3


MPEC 2020-Y120 - "22:39 UT" - 2020 YW3


MPEC 2020-Y119 - "22:37 UT" - 2020 YV3


MPEC 2020-Y118 - "22:35 UT" - 2020 YU3


MPEC 2020-Y117 - "22:05 UT" - 2020 YR3


MPEC 2020-Y116 - "21:13 UT" - 2020 YQ3


MPEC 2020-Y115 - "21:12 UT" - 2020 YP3


MPEC 2020-Y114 - "20:30 UT" - 2020 YO3


MPEC 2020-Y113 - "16:41 UT" - 2020 YN3


MPEC 2020-Y112 - "15:00 UT" - 2013 JM14


MPEC 2020-Y111 - "14:34 UT" - 2020 YM3


MPEC 2020-Y110 - "14:32 UT" - 2020 YL3


<< DOU on 24 December '20 >>  MPEC 2020-Y109 - "12:33 UT" - Daily Orbit Update


MPEC 2020-Y108 - "05:13 UT" - 2020 YK3


MPEC 2020-Y107 - "05:11 UT" - 2020 YJ3

Observers  on 24 December '20

A total of 38 observers appear in today's MPECs.

CodeObserver / observatory
H21Astronomical Research Obs. Westfield in Illinois, 10 in MPECs 2020-Y108, 2020-Y109 & 2020-Y117 -- 2020 YR3, 2020 YK3, 2020 XW, 2020 XN1, 2020 XC4, 2020 XC3, 2020 WS5, 2020 VQ6, 2020 TG4, 164216
T05ATLAS Haleakala in Hawaii, 44 in MPECs 2020-Y109, 2020-Y113, 2020-Y114 & 2020-Y116 -- 2020 YQ3, 2020 YO3, 2020 YN3, 2020 WU5, 2020 TG4, 2016 YM, 2016 ED85, 2015 BF4, 2013 YS2, 2012 UK171, 2003 YJ, 2003 BK47, 1999 VX15, 99942, 85275, 65717, 506779, 506459, 497094, 435404, 373579, 283729, 241596, 216707, 190208, 189040, 186822, 163014, 141079, 138095, 8567, 8037, 5836, 5587, 4179, 4055, 3199, 3122, 1981, 1943, 1685, 1036, 887, 433
T08ATLAS Mauna Loa in Hawaii, 27 in MPEC 2020-Y109 -- 2020 XP2, 2020 XN1, 2020 WS5, 2020 WM5, 2020 WA5, 2020 VQ6, 2020 VC7, 2020 TG4, 2016 WG10, 2013 YS2, 2013 UX14, 2012 XE133, 2001 YV3, 90147, 88188, 66272, 53435, 505093, 465749, 438902, 416694, 415029, 380359, 21374, 163902, 162039, 159402
V00Bok Telescope in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y117 -- 2020 YR3
703Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 17 in MPECs 2020-Y109, 2020-Y113 & 2020-Y116 -- 2020 YQ3, 2020 YN3, 2020 WM5, 2020 WA5, 2002 GZ8, 99935, 90147, 66272, 53435, 465749, 438902, 417201, 416694, 380359, 276409, 21374, 159402
V06Catalina Sky Survey Kuiper Telescope (CSS-Kuiper) in Arizona, 10 in MPECs 2020-Y107, 2020-Y109, 2020-Y110, 2020-Y116, 2020-Y117, 2020-Y118 & 2020-Y121 -- 2020 YX3, 2020 YU3, 2020 YR3, 2020 YQ3, 2020 YL3, 2020 YJ3, 2020 XE6, 2020 TE7, 2020 QD5, 2019 AP6
309&Marco Micheli via Cerro Paranal in Chile, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y109 -- 2020 VV
807|Robert Holmes in Illinois via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) in Chile, 19 in MPECs 2020-Y107, 2020-Y108, 2020-Y109, 2020-Y110, 2020-Y111, 2020-Y116, 2020-Y120, 2020-Y121, 2020-Y122 & 2020-Y123 -- 2020 YZ3, 2020 YY3, 2020 YX3, 2020 YW3, 2020 YQ3, 2020 YM3, 2020 YL3, 2020 YK3, 2020 YJ3, 2020 YC3, 2020 YB3, 2020 XV2, 2020 XT4, 2020 XD4, 2020 XC5, 2020 XB5, 2020 WT5, 2020 WQ1, 2020 TP3
W84&program code "&" (15) via DECam in Chile, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y117 -- 2020 YR3
G377program code 7 via Discovery Channel Telescope in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y117 -- 2020 YR3
X31Galilei Obs., 1 in MPEC 2020-Y114 -- 2020 YO3
U55Golden Ears Obs., 2 in MPECs 2020-Y109 & 2020-Y114 -- 2020 YO3, 90147
J95Great Shefford Obs. in England, 3 in MPECs 2020-Y114, 2020-Y115 & 2020-Y118 -- 2020 YU3, 2020 YP3, 2020 YO3
H06|Hidetaka Sato in Japan via iTelescope Obs. Mayhill in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y114 -- 2020 YO3
U68JPL SynTrack Robotic Telescope, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y115 -- 2020 YP3
381Kiso Obs. in Japan, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y114 -- 2020 YO3
695^Spacewatch via Kitt Peak Natl. Obs. (KPNO) in Arizona, 6 in MPEC 2020-Y109 -- 2020 YR2, 2020 YL1, 2020 XC4, 2020 VK1, 2020 TZ1, 2002 RS129
V37LCO McDonald Obs. in Texas, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y113 -- 2020 YN3
V39LCO McDonald Obs. B in Texas, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y117 -- 2020 YR3
568^R. Wainscoat on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y117 -- 2020 YR3
G96Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) in Arizona, 27 in MPECs 2020-Y107, 2020-Y108, 2020-Y109, 2020-Y110, 2020-Y111, 2020-Y115, 2020-Y116, 2020-Y117, 2020-Y118, 2020-Y119, 2020-Y120, 2020-Y121, 2020-Y122 & 2020-Y123 -- 2020 YZ3, 2020 YY3, 2020 YX3, 2020 YW3, 2020 YV3, 2020 YU3, 2020 YR3, 2020 YQ3, 2020 YP3, 2020 YM3, 2020 YL3, 2020 YK3, 2020 YJ3, 2020 XL3, 2020 XH1, 2018 KM2, 2017 XH62, 2017 GO6, 2017 BL31, 2013 YS2, 96315, 88188, 497094, 459386, 418416, 380128, 23183
C51NEOWISE in Earth polar orbit, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y109 -- 2003 UB5
F51Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) in Hawaii, 36 in MPECs 2020-Y107, 2020-Y109, 2020-Y110, 2020-Y111, 2020-Y113, 2020-Y116, 2020-Y117, 2020-Y119, 2020-Y120 & 2020-Y123 -- 2020 YZ3, 2020 YW3, 2020 YV3, 2020 YR3, 2020 YQ3, 2020 YN3, 2020 YM3, 2020 YL3, 2020 YJ3, 2020 WQ3, 2020 WG, 2020 TM4, 2020 TJ8, 2018 GV5, 2016 EL84, 2016 BP14, 2011 SF3, 2011 GO65, 2011 BA12, 2011 AL24, 2010 MU111, 53430, 484199, 483468, 428086, 416694, 386504, 363305, 31346, 199003, 159402, 152679, 6053, 3551, 1863, 719
F52Pan-STARRS 2 (PS2) in Hawaii, 26 in MPECs 2020-Y107, 2020-Y109, 2020-Y111 & 2020-Y113 -- 2020 YN3, 2020 YM3, 2020 YJ3, 2020 WL1, 2020 VM3, 2020 MZ3, 2020 LD3, 2016 CB32, 2015 OH, 99799, 90147, 88188, 513125, 512245, 510073, 471241, 467963, 455185, 434632, 190208, 189040, 159923, 154347, 141053, 9856, 3552
6581Dave Balam via Plaskett 1.8m Telescope in British Columbia, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y114 -- 2020 YO3
H36Sandlot Obs. in Kansas, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y117 -- 2020 YR3
C95SATINO-1 in France, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y109 -- 27346
204Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y114 -- 2020 YO3
0331program code 1 via Schwarzschild Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y117 -- 2020 YR3
691Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 7 in MPECs 2020-Y109, 2020-Y110 & 2020-Y113 -- 2020 YN3, 2020 YL3, 2020 XN1, 2020 TG4, 2017 BL31, 2017 AF5, 2001 YV3
291Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 6 in MPECs 2020-Y109 & 2020-Y111 -- 2020 YM3, 2020 XU, 2020 XR, 2020 XF, 2020 WW5, 2019 YP5
I52Steward Obs. Mt. Lemmon Station in Arizona, 27 in MPECs 2020-Y108, 2020-Y109, 2020-Y110, 2020-Y111, 2020-Y113, 2020-Y114, 2020-Y115, 2020-Y116, 2020-Y118, 2020-Y119, 2020-Y120, 2020-Y122 & 2020-Y123 -- 2020 YZ3, 2020 YZ2, 2020 YY3, 2020 YY2, 2020 YW3, 2020 YV3, 2020 YU3, 2020 YS2, 2020 YR1, 2020 YQ3, 2020 YP3, 2020 YO3, 2020 YO1, 2020 YN3, 2020 YM3, 2020 YL3, 2020 YL1, 2020 YK3, 2020 YE1, 2020 YD, 2020 YA1, 2020 XZ6, 2020 XV2, 2020 XH, 2020 XF3, 2020 XC3, 2020 WM5
J22Tacande Obs. in the Canary Islands, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y109 -- 2012 UK171
858Tebbutt Obs. in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y108 -- 2020 YK3
K62Teplice Obs. in the Czech Republic, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y114 -- 2020 YO3
T14UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up CFH Telescope in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y112 -- 2013 JM14
718Wiggins Obs. in Utah, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y114 -- 2020 YO3
I41Zwicky Transient Facility in southern California, 1 in MPEC 2020-Y109 -- 99942
For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page.

Impact Risk Monitoring  on 24 December '20

Summary Risk Table for Risk Assessments Updated Today   (last checks: NEODyS at 2358 UTC)
See the CRT page for a list of all objects rated recently as risks and our ephemerides page for a list of risk-listed objects under current observation.
The time horizon for JPL and NEODyS listings is 100 years, and both post impact solutions beyond that for some special objects.
For the latest official risk assessments, and for explanations of the terminology, see the NASA/JPL Sentry and NEODyS CLOMON2 risk pages.
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
2020 YM3NEODyS2201211811.99e-08-8.75-8.750NEODyS: "Based on 23 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-11.568 to 2020-12-24.443."
2020 YK3JPL Sentry18102042-2113241.91059877e-05-6.00-6.320JPL: Computed at 22:45 Dec. 23rd Pacific time based on 19 observations spanning 1.9843 days (2020-Dec-22.1975 to 2020-Dec-24.181831). Diameter approximately 0.013 km. from weighted mean H=27.11.
NEODyS18102062-2120171.41e-06-7.25-7.76n/aNEODyS: "Based on 19 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-22.198 to 2020-12-24.183."
2020 YC3NEODyS22012025-2120701.02e-07-4.55-5.13n/aNEODyS: "Based on 24 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-21.273 to 2020-12-23.285."
JPL Sentry18102025-2120791.405579e-07-4.28-5.120JPL: Computed at 06:58 today Pacific time based on 24 observations spanning 2.0123 days (2020-Dec-21.271836 to 2020-Dec-23.2841). Diameter approximately 0.327 km. from weighted mean H=20.08.
2020 YS2NEODyS2200R E M O V E D-
JPL Sentry18102093-209315.187e-07-9.57-9.570JPL: Computed at 06:55 today Pacific time based on 21 observations spanning 2.9133 days (2020-Dec-21.459571 to 2020-Dec-24.372867). Diameter approximately 0.002 km. from weighted mean H=31.00.
2020 YM1JPL Sentry18102091-2119187.399411e-05-6.80-7.150JPL: Computed at 06:56 Dec. 21st Pacific time based on 15 observations spanning 1.7688 days (2020-Dec-19.434187 to 2020-Dec-21.20299). Diameter approximately 0.004 km. from weighted mean H=29.64.
2020 YL1NEODyS22012038-211675.3e-08-4.64-4.860NEODyS: "Based on 43 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-19.376 to 2020-12-24.400."
JPL Sentry18102038-211681.775412e-07-3.96-4.050JPL: Computed at 06:31 today Pacific time based on 43 observations spanning 5.0240 days (2020-Dec-19.375273 to 2020-Dec-24.39925). Diameter approximately 0.260 km. from weighted mean H=20.55.
2020 YA1NEODyS22012093-211894.59e-06-6.65-6.750NEODyS: "Based on 48 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-17.405 to 2020-12-24.415."
JPL Sentry18102058-211355.055553e-06-6.60-6.790JPL: Computed at 06:40 today Pacific time based on 48 observations spanning 7.0096 days (2020-Dec-17.404234 to 2020-Dec-24.413825). Diameter approximately 0.015 km. from weighted mean H=26.71.
2020 XFNEODyS22012056-21205091.04e-03-4.01-4.16n/aNEODyS #2 for the day: "Based on 95 optical observations (of which 2 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-12-04.328 to 2020-12-24.184."
JPL Sentry18102056-21201350.000374351526-4.52-5.020JPL: Computed at 06:54 today Pacific time based on 93 observations spanning 18.767 days (2020-Dec-04.32683 to 2020-Dec-23.09403). Diameter approximately 0.015 km. from weighted mean H=26.70.
2020 VVNEODyS22012044-21204784.31e-03-3.61-4.19n/aNEODyS: "Based on 79 optical observations (of which 1 are rejected as outliers) from 2020-10-17.215 to 2020-12-17.328."
JPL Sentry18102044-21131390.002201438094-3.90-4.370JPL: Computed at 06:46 today Pacific time based on 79 observations spanning 61.112 days (2020-Oct-17.214515 to 2020-Dec-17.326949). Diameter approximately 0.012 km. from weighted mean H=27.27.
2017 YO5JPL Sentry18102090-211791.379332e-05-5.77-6.070JPL: Computed at 07:59 March 13th of 2018 Pacific time based on 31 observations spanning 26.117 days (2017-Dec-25.45197 to 2018-Jan-20.568928). Diameter approximately 0.020 km. from weighted mean H=26.13.
2013 YBJPL Sentry18102022-2063267.46111574e-05-6.32-6.670JPL: Computed at 08:53 April 8th of 2017 Pacific time based on 11 observations spanning .16022 days (2013-Dec-23.21048 to 2013-Dec-23.3707). Diameter approximately 0.002 km. from weighted mean H=31.44.
2008 YD3JPL Sentry18102021-2110301.08172e-07-7.21-7.660JPL: Computed at 12:49 Dec. 18th of 2019 Pacific time based on 12 observations spanning .14315 days (2008-Dec-22.34245 to 2008-Dec-22.4856). Diameter approximately 0.021 km. from weighted mean H=26.04.

Legend: VI# = VI count, Prob Cum = cumulative probability, PS Cum/Max = cumulative/maximum Palermo Scale, TS = Torino Scale (next 100 years)

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 24 December '20

Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.

2306Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y117 - 2020 YR3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y118 - 2020 YU3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y119 - 2020 YV3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y120 - 2020 YW3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y121 - 2020 YX3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y122 - 2020 YY3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y123 - 2020 YZ3 - see above
2201Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 VV risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XF risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 YA1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 YC3 risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 YL1 risk assessment - see above
2200Noted that NEODyS has posted 2020 YM3 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that NEODyS has removed 2020 YS2 as an impact risk - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y114 - 2020 YO3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y115 - 2020 YP3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y116 - 2020 YQ3 - see above
1810Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2008 YD3 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2013 YB risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2017 YO5 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 VV risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 XF risk assessment - see above
Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2020 XF risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YA1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YC3 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has posted 2020 YK3 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that NEODyS has posted 2020 YK3 as an impact risk - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YL1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YM1 risk assessment - see above
Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2020 YS2 risk assessment - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y109 - Daily Orbit Update - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y110 - 2020 YL3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y111 - 2020 YM3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y112 - 2013 JM14 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y113 - 2020 YN3 - see above
0530Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y107 - 2020 YJ3 - see above
Grabbed MPEC 2020-Y108 - 2020 YK3 - see above