Hi Norman,

"...I sense that if there were another potential impactor, MPC
would prefer to handle the publicity."

Perhaps so. But in cases like this, where time is of the essence,
I'd recommend making some noise on MPML.

MPC has to exercise some restraint in announcing impactors. Were
they to report a likely impactor, and then had to say "oops" a bit
later, they would get egg on their faces. The problem with that
approach is that if you show too much restraint, you might miss a
really important object (like 2008 TC3).

If you are _not_ a professional, though, there's nothing wrong
with putting a note on MPML to the effect of: "I think this object
might hit us. Would somebody please get an image or two so I'll know
for sure?" People will give you a break if you turn out to be wrong.
MPC might not get that sort of break.

The important thing here (and I'm confident the folks at MPC would
agree with me on this) is that objects of this sort get observed as
briskly as possible. And the quickest way to get the word out there,
and to get telescopes pointed at an object, is with a brief post to MPML.

-- Bill