Mysterious ‘Dark Comets’ Could Pose Greater Threat To Earth Than Previously Believed

Recent research indicates that enigmatic “dark comets” may pose a greater threat to Earth than previously thought. These nearly undetectable, fast-rotating asteroids, likely originating from the far side of the solar system, are moving close to Earth.

Although they present a significant risk, they could also provide water and other volatile materials. Comets typically differ from asteroids due to their origins in the farthest regions of the solar system, where extremely low temperatures cause molecules like water to freeze.

Occasionally, their orbits are disturbed by the gravitational pull of massive planets, drawing them into the inner solar system. As comets approach the sun, they break apart, revealing their distinctive tails.

Asteroids, typically located between Mars and Jupiter, are rockier and can withstand the sun’s glare for longer. However, they too can enter unstable orbits, approaching Earth. A newly identified type of space rock, dark comets, exhibits characteristics of both asteroids and comets. According to a paper accepted by the journal Icarus, astronomers have investigated their origins.

These dark comets, only tens of kilometers across, show no visible outgassing but exhibit “nongravitational” acceleration, suggesting other forces are altering their orbits. The researchers propose that dark comets are outgassing at an undetectable level, causing their acceleration.

Their rapid spin indicates internal strength, likely originating from larger fragmented objects. Dark comets probably come from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, disturbed by Saturn’s gravitational interactions.