• MPC Preparation (Info)

    • MPEC 2021-D62 :

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    M.P.E.C. 2021-D62                             Issued 2021 February 19, 18:47 UT

     The Minor Planet Electronic Circulars contain information on unusual
         minor planets and routine data on comets.  They are published
    on behalf of Division F of the International Astronomical Union by the
          Minor Planet Center, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory,
                          Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.

             Prepared using the Tamkin Foundation Computer Network

                              MPC@CFA.HARVARD.EDU
            URL https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/    ISSN 1523-6714

                           DELETION OF 2020 SO                           

     The designation 2020 SO, announced on MPEC 2020-S78 and published in MPS
1245724, is being deleted. Based on its orbital evolution Paul Chodas suggested
that 2020 SO could be the Centaur upper stage for the Surveyor 2 mission 
(1966-84B), launched on September 20, 1966. Subsequent observations revealed a
large area to mass ratio of the object supporting the artificial nature of the
object. The object was temporarily captured on geocentric orbit and will leave
the Earths Hill sphere in March 2021.

M. P. C. Staff               (C) Copyright 2021 MPC           M.P.E.C. 2021-D62

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    MPEC number:

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    • 1997-B01 (the full form)
    • J97B01 (the packed version of the full form)
    • B01 (the abbreviated form)