Here we explore whether there are any upcoming asteroid encounters and how NASA and other space agencies actively monitor near-Earth asteroids that have the potential to hit our planet.
Shane McGlaun - Feb 26, 2021, 4:26am CST
The NASA Hubble Space Telescope has spied a comet-like object known as a Centaur that has settled near a group of captured ancient asteroids called Trojans orbiting alongside Jupiter. NASA says this is the first time a comet-like object has been spotted near the ancient Trojan population. The Centaur name classifies icy bodies in the space between Jupiter and Neptune that become active for the first time when heated as they approach the sun.
After heating, Centaurs dynamically transition into being more comet-like. Hubble captured snapshots of the icy body using visible light, showing that it has comet-like activity, including a tail, outgassing in the form of jets, and an interesting coma of dust and gas. Earlier observations by the Spitzer Space Telescope sheds light on the composition of the object and the gases that drive its activity. Hubble researchers say the aging space telescope is the only tool that could have de
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IMAGE: Astronomers found a roaming comet taking a rest stop before possibly continuing its journey. The wayward object made a temporary stop near giant Jupiter. The icy visitor has plenty of. view more
Credit: Credits: NASA, ESA, and B. Bolin (Caltech)
After traveling several billion miles toward the Sun, a wayward young comet-like object orbiting among the giant planets has found a temporary parking place along the way. The object has settled near a family of captured ancient asteroids, called Trojans, that are orbiting the Sun alongside Jupiter. This is the first time a comet-like object has been spotted near the Trojan population.
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