An Asteroid Scientists Have Tracked For 27 Years Just Turned Out to Be a Comet in Disguise

Astronomers have reclassified near-Earth object 1998 SH2 from an asteroid to a dark comet.

Follow-up observations revealed a faint coma and tail, with its odd motion best explained by ice sublimation beneath the surface.

The finding suggests dark comets may be more common than expected and could help refine models of Earth’s early water delivery.

It also improves how scientists track potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.