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2 clusters · 8 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated
Asteroid 1998 KY26 orbital acceleration investigation
Overview
Scientists are investigating the unexplained, non-gravitational acceleration of asteroid 1998 KY26, an 11-meter celestial body that is deviating from its expected orbital path. The object is characterized by an extremely rapid rotation, completing a full turn on its axis every 5.35 minutes.
Research published in the journal Icarus by Korbin Hansen and Masatoshi Hirabayashi of the Georgia Institute of Technology has challenged the previous hypothesis that the object is a “dark comet.” Their thermal modeling suggests the asteroid is likely too warm to maintain the buried ice necessary for cometary propulsion, leading to the conclusion that it is likely a dehydrated asteroid.
Alternative hypotheses for the unexpected thrust include the influence of solar radiation pressure or, as suggested by astronomer Avi Loeb, the possibility that the object is a derelict spacecraft. To further investigate the composition and behavior of the asteroid, the Japanese space agency, JAXA, plans to send its Hayabusa2 spacecraft to visit the object in July 2031.
Entities
ICARUS · Georgia Institute of Technology · Korbin Hansen · Masatoshi Hirabayashi · Asteroid 1998 KY26
Timeline
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[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sourcesAsteroid 1998 KY26 exhibits unexplained acceleration
A study published in Icarus suggests that asteroid 1998 KY26's unexplained acceleration cannot be attributed to comet-like gas emissions, as the object is too warm to hold frozen water ice.
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[TECHNOLOGY] 6 sourcesAsteroid 1998 KY26 exhibits unexplained acceleration in space
Researchers suggest the asteroid 1998 KY26 is likely a dehydrated rock, challenging the theory that its unusual acceleration is caused by invisible cometary outgassing.
Sources
europesays.com · exame.com · futurism.com · in.mashable.com · kurierverlag.de · notifalcon.com · op-online.de · sciencealert.com