Date: 22/09/2017 01:14:47
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 1121277
Subject: A binary asteroid that's also a comet.

Astronomers Have Spotted a Strange Hybrid Asteroid in Our Solar System

The Hubble space telescope has seen a lot of weird things that defy easy definition. Here’s one more for the list – a binary asteroid that’s also a comet.

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Date: 22/09/2017 01:16:03
From: dv
ID: 1121278
Subject: re: A binary asteroid that's also a comet.

Now that is nice

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Date: 22/09/2017 01:19:09
From: Tau.Neutrino
ID: 1121279
Subject: re: A binary asteroid that's also a comet.

Yes, an interesting object.

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Date: 22/09/2017 01:20:39
From: dv
ID: 1121280
Subject: re: A binary asteroid that's also a comet.

Got to love this solar system

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Date: 22/09/2017 05:57:10
From: mollwollfumble
ID: 1121288
Subject: re: A binary asteroid that's also a comet.

Tau.Neutrino said:


Astronomers Have Spotted a Strange Hybrid Asteroid in Our Solar System

The Hubble space telescope has seen a lot of weird things that defy easy definition. Here’s one more for the list – a binary asteroid that’s also a comet.

more…

DNGAF? Oh, I get it.

> The researchers think 2006 VW139 split apart about 5000 years ago under the stress of rotation, where the stream of vapour coming off the pieces helped push them further and further apart.

(Inhales through clenched teeth)

Possible, but unlikely. Close binaries and contact binaries are extremely common among asteroids. They are (almost) always due to formation processes rather than splitting.

On the other hand, comets do split up and fragment when they get close to the Sun. So it could be correct.

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