NASA Researchers Discover More Dark Comets

Washington, 10 Dec (ONA) --- Astronomers have identified seven additional "dark comets," mysterious celestial objects that look like asteroids but behave like comets, doubling the known count to 14.

The findings were published in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

These findings reveal two distinct types: larger outer dark comets in eccentric orbits in the outer solar system and smaller inner dark comets in near-circular orbits closer to the Sun.

First detected in 2016, dark comets puzzled researchers by exhibiting comet-like behavior, such as subtle orbital shifts from outgassing, without the visible tails typical of comets.

In 2017, a NASA-sponsored telescope identified ‘Oumuamua, the first interstellar object, exhibiting traits of both asteroids and comets. Its unexpected trajectory change resembled outgassing, sparking interest due to its similarity to 2003 RM, another puzzling object.

By 2023, researchers had identified seven such objects in our solar system, leading to the creation of a new celestial category: "dark comets."

Recently, seven more were discovered, allowing scientists to classify them into two types. Outer dark comets are larger, with eccentric orbits like Jupiter-family comets, while inner dark comets are smaller, residing in near-circular orbits closer to the Sun.

These findings raise questions about the origin, composition, and behavior of dark comets, including their potential to contain ice and deliver life-sustaining materials to Earth.

Researchers believe studying them could provide insights into planetary formation and the origins of life on Earth.

---Ends/Thuraiya/KH