NASA discovers near-Earth object is actually a comet

NASA researchers have reclassified a near-Earth object, previously identified as an asteroid, as a comet. The object, known as 1998 SH2, was found to exhibit cometary activity, including a tail and coma, which were so faint they could only be detected through high-precision telescope observations.

This finding, detailed in a NASA study, suggests that some celestial bodies currently categorized as asteroids might actually be comets. These objects could be in a dormant state or possess very weak cometary tails, making them difficult to distinguish from asteroids with standard observational methods.

The study utilized advanced telescopic observations to analyze the trajectory and characteristics of 1998 SH2. The successful identification of its cometary nature underscores the importance of precise observational techniques in astronomical research and the potential for revising existing classifications of near-Earth objects.