Space & Astronomy
'Dark' comets may pose threat to Earth
By
T.K. RandallFebruary 17, 2009 ·
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 |
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