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1998 Sh2

All articles tagged with #1998 sh2

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Near-Earth Object Rewrites Its Identity: A Hidden Comet Behind the Asteroid Label

Astronomers confirmed that the near-Earth object 1998 SH2, once labeled an asteroid, exhibits cometary activity (a faint coma and tail) driven by ice sublimation. Its non-gravitational motion predicted this activity before direct observation, making it the first case where orbital perturbations pointed to a comet. If dark comets are more common, they could influence Earth impact risk assessments and help explain how water may have been delivered to early Earth, with broader implications for planetary defense and interpreting objects like ‘Oumuamua.

via ScienceAlert|

#1998-sh2 #dark-comets #near-earth-object

space1 month ago•104 min saved

1998 SH2: A Near-Earth Object Reclassified as a Comet, Illuminating Planetary Defense

Astronomers using NASA radar and decades of precise astrometry determined that the near-Earth object 1998 SH2 is actually an active comet with a faint tail. The discovery, supported by observations from the Very Large Telescope and CFHT and published in Nature Astronomy, shows nongravitational forces from outgassing that can alter an object's orbit, improving how we identify hidden comets among near-Earth objects and assess potential impact risks.

via Space|

#1998-sh2 #comets #near-earth-objects

space1 month ago•3 min saved

28-Year Identity Swap: 1998 SH2 Is a Comet, Not an Asteroid

A near-Earth object long tracked as a possible asteroid (1998 SH2) was shown to be a comet after nongravitational forces from outgassing altered its path; subsequent observations with large telescopes detected a faint tail, and the object was redesignated as P/1998 SH2, highlighting the existence of dark comets and the importance of continuous tracking for planetary defense.

via Gizmodo|

#1998-sh2 #asteroid #comet