- Scientists have identified seven new “dark comets,” celestial objects that blur the line between asteroids and comets, bringing the total known to 14. These objects, which resemble asteroids but move like comets, could provide insights into the origins of water on Earth and the development of life.
- Dark comets lack the visible tails of traditional comets but exhibit non-gravitational acceleration, meaning their trajectories are influenced by forces other than gravity.
- The newly discovered dark comets fall into two distinct groups: outer dark comets and inner dark comets.
- Dark comets may contain water ice, even in the inner solar system, challenging the traditional “snow line” theory. Their potential reservoirs of ice suggest they could have played a role in delivering water to Earth, offering clues about the origins of life.
- The search for dark comets is set to expand with advanced tools like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which is expected to uncover more of these objects starting in 2025.
(Natural News)—According to a fascinating report published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists have discovered seven new dark comets.
The groundbreaking discovery has astronomers buzzing with excitement because experts have identified seven new “dark comets,” which are celestial objects that blur the line between asteroids and comets.
This latest discovery brings the total number of known dark comets to 14, a significant milestone that has allowed researchers to begin unraveling their secrets. These enigmatic objects, which look like asteroids but move like comets, could hold vital clues about the origins of water on Earth and the development of life itself.
The findings also revealed that dark comets fall into two distinct families: one residing in the outer solar system and another in the inner solar system. This discovery not only deepens the mystery of these objects but also opens up new avenues for understanding their role in the formation of our solar system and the delivery of essential materials to Earth.
What are dark comets?
Dark comets are a relatively new category of celestial objects that challenge the traditional understanding of comets and asteroids.
Unlike typical comets, which are often described as “dirty snowballs” made of ice, dust and rock, dark comets lack the iconic tails that form when sunlight vaporizes their icy surfaces. Instead, they appear as faint points of light, much like asteroids.
However, dark comets exhibit non-gravitational acceleration, meaning their trajectories are influenced by forces other than gravity. For regular comets, this extra push comes from the sublimation of ice into gas, which creates thrust and propels them forward. But dark comets show no visible signs of outgassing, leaving scientists puzzled about the source of their acceleration.
The first hints of dark comets emerged in 2016 when researchers noticed that an object called 2003 RM was deviating slightly from its expected orbit. This anomaly couldn’t be explained by the usual forces acting on asteroids, such as the Yarkovsky effect, which describes how sunlight can subtly alter an asteroid’s path.
Then, in 2017, the interstellar object Oumuamua added to the intrigue. Like 2003 RM, Oumuamua exhibited non-gravitational acceleration without any visible signs of outgassing, sparking widespread curiosity about these mysterious objects.
Two families of dark comets
The discovery of seven new dark comets has allowed scientists to categorize them into two distinct groups based on their location, size and orbital characteristics.
Outer dark comets
Outer dark comets reside in the outer solar system, beyond the orbit of Jupiter. They are larger, with diameters ranging from hundreds of meters to several kilometers, and follow highly elliptical orbits similar to those of traditional comets.
Their orbital properties suggest that they may be related to Jupiter-family comets, which originate in the outer reaches of the solar system and settle into orbits influenced by Jupiter’s gravity.
Inner dark comets
Inner dark comets are found in the inner solar system and are much smaller, measuring just tens of meters across or less. They follow nearly circular orbits, similar to those of the planets, and are thought to have originated in the inner region of the asteroid belt.
Despite their small size, these objects also exhibit non-gravitational acceleration, hinting at the presence of ice beneath their surfaces.
The mystery of ice’s existence in the inner solar system
One of the most intriguing aspects of dark comets is the possibility that they contain water ice. When the solar system formed 4.5 billion years ago, an invisible boundary called the “snow line” separated regions where water could exist as ice from those where it remained in vapor or liquid form.
The snow line is located just beyond the current orbit of Jupiter, meaning objects in the inner solar system were thought to be too warm to retain ice. Yet the inner dark comets’ non-gravitational acceleration suggests they must contain some form of volatile material, likely ice, to generate the thrust needed for their peculiar motion. This raises fascinating questions about how these objects acquired their ice and whether they played a role in delivering water to Earth.
The discovery of dark comets has profound implications for the current understanding of Earth’s history. Scientists have long debated how water, a key ingredient for life, arrived on the planet.
One leading theory is that icy comets and asteroids delivered water during the early stages of the solar system’s formation. Dark comets, with their potential reservoirs of ice, could be a new piece of this puzzle.
Daryl Seligman, a physicist at Michigan State University and lead author of the new study, suggests that dark comets may have been a significant source of the materials necessary for life’s development. “The more we can learn about them, the better we can understand their role in our planet’s origin,” he said.
The search for more dark comets
Finding dark comets is no easy task. Unlike their bright counterparts, they don’t produce dazzling tails that make them easy to spot. Instead, astronomers rely on the faint light they reflect from the sun, using powerful telescopes to detect their presence.
The recent discovery of the seven new dark comets was made possible by the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) in Chile, which captures detailed images of the night sky. The search for dark comets is set to accelerate in the coming years.
In 2025, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, equipped with the largest digital camera ever built, will begin scanning the skies. This state-of-the-art facility is expected to uncover even more dark comets, potentially doubling or tripling the number of known objects in this category. (Related: NASA is hiding crucial details about asteroids that could THREATEN Earth, warns senior SETI Institute astronomer.)
The discovery of dark comets is a reminder of how much humans still have to learn about the solar system. These mysterious objects challenge the existing classifications of comets and asteroids and offer tantalizing clues about the origins of water and life on Earth.
As scientists continue to study dark comets, they may uncover answers to some of the most fundamental questions about the planet’s history. Whether these objects are remnants of the early solar system or interstellar visitors like Oumuamua, their secrets could reshape the understanding of the cosmos and humanity’s place within it.
For now, dark comets remain a cosmic enigma — one that promises to inspire curiosity and discovery for years to come.
Visit Space.news for more stories about interesting discoveries in outer space. Watch the video below to learn about the difference between comets and asteroids.
This video is from the Finding Genius Podcast channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- China’s Mars rover may have stumbled across a lost ancient ocean on the Red Planet.
- Stranded NASA astronauts face difficulties in space as they wait to be rescued in February 2025.
- Space debris from satellite traffic now a larger threat to humanity than plastic pollution.
- The new frontier of warfare: America must prepare for SPACE CONFLICT.
- Thick water ice found buried at Mars’ equator is enough to cover entire planet in water.
Sources include:
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
