A Lazarus comet is a small body within the main asteroid belt that is not an asteroid, but a comet that has been trapped and may be re-energized into being a live comet.[1] They are referred to more formally as asteroid belt comets, or ABC.[2] Astronomers are referring to this region of the asteroid belt as a comet graveyard, but calling these comets "Lazarus" because of their potential to be "resurrected".[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Between Mars and Jupiter, a Comet Graveyard May Rise Again (VIDEO)". Slate. 2 August 2013.
- ^ Ferrín, Ignacio; et al. (September 2013). "The location of Asteroidal Belt Comets (ABCs), in a comet's evolutionary diagram: The Lazarus Comets". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 434 (3): 1821–1837. arXiv:1305.2621. Bibcode:2013MNRAS.434.1821F. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt839.
- ^ "'Lazarus' comets may be returning to life in asteroid field". Los Angeles Times. 2013-08-02.
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