Damocloid
asteroid following a comet-like orbit
A damocloid is an asteroid that takes a long time to orbit the Sun. They are very similar to the periodic comets, like Halley's Comet, but a damocloid does not have a tail like a comet.[1] They are believed to be comets that have lost their volatile material and are dormant. Scientists think that they come from the Oort cloud. This is because some damocloids, such as C/2001 OG108 (LONEOS), later developed tails and became comets. Some damocloids also orbit in the same direction as comets, which is the opposite direction to asteroids.[1] By January 2010, scientists had found 41 damocloids.[1]
References
change- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Damocloid asteroid". damocloid-asteroid.co.tv. 2011. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
Other websites
change- David Jewitt, A first look at the Damocloids