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Space & Astronomy

'Dark' comets may pose threat to Earth

By T.K. Randall
February 17, 2009 · Comment icon 7 comments

Image Credit: NASA/JPL
Scientists have warned that 'dark comets' could pose a threat to the Earth and that we won't be able to detect them. A comet becomes 'dark' when the reflective water ice has evaporated leaving only the dark nucleus. Scientists believe that comets as oppose to asteroids were responsible for many of the world's ancient impacts.
Swathes of dark comets may be prowling the solar system, posing a deadly threat to Earth. Hazardous comets and asteroids are monitored by various space agencies under an umbrella effort known as Spaceguard. The vast majority of objects found so far are rocky asteroids. Yet UK-based astronomers Bill Napier at Cardiff University and David Asher at Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland claim that many comets could be going undetected."


Source: New Scientist | Comments (7)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by SRCivic98 15 years ago
all I've got to say is bring it on biggin. If one hits then one will just have to hit. Nature is always win in the long run no matter how much you try to avoid it or try to make nature disobey the laws of logic and natural procedure. So let it come, besides maybe that'll be what human knid needs in order to make us all truly work together in order to survive...then again, it could also cause human kind to panic and kill each other off in order to make it to safety because of how greedy society has become.
Comment icon #2 Posted by SpIdErCyDe 15 years ago
Well that's just perfect, now we have to face planet killing ninja comets, we're doomed.
Comment icon #3 Posted by Since804 15 years ago
lmao "ninja comets"
Comment icon #4 Posted by Giorgio1dk 15 years ago
god! I dont wanna dieeeee! some body call Bruce Willis... edit: horrible typo
Comment icon #5 Posted by ToySouljah 15 years ago
god! I dont wanna dieeeee! some body call Bruce Willis... edit: horrible typo Bruce Willis? Nah...Chuck Norris would just round house it off course. lol
Comment icon #6 Posted by SpIdErCyDe 15 years ago
Chuck is definitely the answer to any ninja...especially ninjas of the comet variety.
Comment icon #7 Posted by Blueguardian 15 years ago
And here I was thinking that there were already too many impending dooms, hell if they can't detect them with their current technology start developing new technology, well i guess we have some defense, we have so many satellites up there they are colliding with each other, so if any commets do come im sure the satellites will take the hits for us. Hasn't anyone ever wondered what all those so called stars actually are?


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