December 2024 PMID 39652762

Two distinct populations of dark comets delineated by orbits and sizes.

Darryl Z Seligman, Davide Farnocchia, Marco Micheli, Olivier R Hainaut, Henry H Hsieh, Adina D Feinstein, Steven R Chesley, Aster G Taylor, Joseph Masiero, Karen J Meech

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Mentions

47
Peak: 37 in Dec 2024
across 5 sources since Dec 2024

Extended reach

410,865
potential audience

Total likes

1,721

Video views

63,350

Mentions per month

Dec 2024 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter30 posts
  • News9 articles
  • Bluesky5 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Reddit1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reflects a strong interest in the discovery, with users mentioning the distinction between two comet populations and their relevance to Earth's space environment, exemplified by posts emphasizing the significance of these objects in planetary science and the curiosity about their nature. Words like 'delineated,' 'newfound,' and references to 'dark comets' contribute to a tone of scientific importance and investigative curiosity.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions seem supportive or curious about the research, indicating general agreement or acknowledgment of its significance.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high curiosity, referencing new findings and emphasizing the importance of the study in understanding dark comets and their role in delivering materials to Earth.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments occasionally question the omission of the research paper link and respond with clarifications, suggesting moderate engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The focus on potential implications like water delivery and the rarity of these objects hints at a modest but meaningful scientific impact.

Abstract in brief

  • The study identifies two types of dark comets based on their orbits and sizes: larger, eccentric outer dark comets and smaller, nearcircular inner dark comets, suggesting they may represent different stages in comet evolution.
  • Some inactive near-Earth objects show nongravitational accelerations likely caused by volatiles-driven outgassing, despite showing no visible signs of dust or comae in images.
  • This research indicates that these dark comets could be part of a larger, previously undetected population of volatile-rich bodies that contributed essential materials like water and organics to Earth.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Corey S. Powell
@coreyspowell · X

For some reason, the NASA folks did not link to the research paper describing the newfound dark comets. Allow me to correct that oversight. Here is "Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes": https://t.co/1xQgVnUhWY https://t.co/IMc35chN4p

Dec 16, 2024 · 30 likes · 2 shares · 80,166 followers View post →
Michael Busch
@michael-w-busch.bsky.social · Bluesky

Today on the #arXiv : Seligman et al. 2024, "Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes" - arxiv.org/abs/2412.07603 For those unaware: The "dark comets" are asteroids that have orbits changing in ways that indicate out-gassing, but have no visible dust or gas tails.

Dec 11, 2024 · 11 likes · 7 shares View post →
ゆきまさかずよし
@Kyukimasa · X

@NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 10 likes · 8 shares · 20,638 followers View post →
PNASNews
@PNASNews · X

Researchers have found additional space objects like ‘Oumuamua, which are known as “dark comets,” as they do not have glowing tails. These objects may have once delivered water, organic chemicals, and other building blocks of life to Earth. In PNAS: https://t.co/yCu4swOGBl https://t.co/aESC0LQrFR

Dec 11, 2024 · 8 likes · 7 shares · 181,607 followers View post →
Astrobiology
@astrobiology · X

Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://t.co/cmNUS4LuoT #astrobiology #astronomy #astrogeology #astrochemistry #comet https://t.co/SuvihXRvR6

Dec 14, 2024 · 8 likes · 7 shares · 35,784 followers View post →
Astrobiology
@astrobiology.bsky.social · Bluesky

Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes astrobiology.com/2024/12/two-... #astrobiology #astronomy #astrogeology #astrochemistry #comet

Dec 14, 2024 · 7 likes · 3 shares View post →

All mentions

Tony The Boxing Guru Guzman
@Spelling_Expurt · X

@Dunger71 Want me to start posting peer reviewed articles next? Then you’ll say “they can make mistakes bro” https://t.co/FE5HNrba6K Arguing with idiots is like playing chess with a pigeon. It will knock over the pieces, strut around, and then declare victory"

Oct 23, 2025 · 701 followers View post →
NicoleRosaE
@NICOLEROSA220 · X

RT @WChirawani12042: ดาวหางมืด(Dark comet) ดาวหางมืดคือดาวเคราะห์น้อยคล้ายดาวหางแต่ไม่มีหาง มีความเร่งที่ไม่ใช่แรงโน้มถ่วง นักดาราศาสตร์เ…

Oct 6, 2025 · 1 share · 859 followers View post →
Wachira Chiravanich
@WChirawani12042 · X

ดาวหางมืด(Dark comet) ดาวหางมืดคือดาวเคราะห์น้อยคล้ายดาวหางแต่ไม่มีหาง มีความเร่งที่ไม่ใช่แรงโน้มถ่วง นักดาราศาสตร์เชื่อว่าเป็นดาวหางเก่าแก่ที่สูญเสียสารระเหย หรือมีองค์ประกอบต่างจากดาวหางทั่วไป การศึกษายังมีคำถามอีกมาก https://t.co/zm9SzdHhJp #RaceToSpaceTH #SERASpace

Oct 6, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 9 followers View post →
เมืองไทย ... ร่มเย็น เป็นสุข
@isariyamanee · X

ดาวหางมืด (Dark Comet) การเร่งความเร็วที่หาอธิบายไม่ได้: ʻOumuamua, Bori... https://t.co/DrF8xu8eJl ผ่าน @YouTube

Sep 2, 2025 · 2,047 followers View post →
Antonio Candiello
@candiello · X

RT @coreyspowell: For some reason, the NASA folks did not link to the research paper describing the newfound dark comets. Allow me to corr…

Dec 17, 2024 · 2 shares · 1,222 followers View post →
dusty
@dustyWayneJr · X

RT @coreyspowell: For some reason, the NASA folks did not link to the research paper describing the newfound dark comets. Allow me to corr…

Dec 16, 2024 · 2 shares · 1,470 followers View post →
Corey S. Powell
@coreyspowell · X

For some reason, the NASA folks did not link to the research paper describing the newfound dark comets. Allow me to correct that oversight. Here is "Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes": https://t.co/1xQgVnUhWY https://t.co/IMc35chN4p

Dec 16, 2024 · 30 likes · 2 shares · 80,166 followers View post →
Darinko Kovilic
@darinko_kovilic · X

RT @astrobiology: Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://t.co/cmNUS4LuoT #astrobiology #astronomy #…

Dec 16, 2024 · 7 shares · 103 followers View post →
HubBucket Inc | Self-Funded STEM Research
@HubbucketInc · X

RT @astrobiology: Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://t.co/cmNUS4LuoT #astrobiology #astronomy #…

Dec 15, 2024 · 7 shares · 238 followers View post →
Danielle
@DwithNature · X

RT @astrobiology: Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://t.co/cmNUS4LuoT #astrobiology #astronomy #…

Dec 15, 2024 · 7 shares · 3 followers View post →
RocketManRandy
@RMRCosmic · X

RT @astrobiology: Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://t.co/cmNUS4LuoT #astrobiology #astronomy #…

Dec 15, 2024 · 7 shares · 16 followers View post →
Eco_Engineer Green
@GreenLifeMaps · X

RT @astrobiology: Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://t.co/cmNUS4LuoT #astrobiology #astronomy #…

Dec 14, 2024 · 7 shares · 64 followers View post →
Claude Gillono
@sherman1959CG · X

RT @astrobiology: Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://t.co/cmNUS4LuoT #astrobiology #astronomy #…

Dec 14, 2024 · 7 shares · 168 followers View post →
Astrobiology
@astrobiology · X

Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://t.co/cmNUS4LuoT #astrobiology #astronomy #astrogeology #astrochemistry #comet https://t.co/SuvihXRvR6

Dec 14, 2024 · 8 likes · 7 shares · 35,784 followers View post →
Astrobiology
@astrobiology.bsky.social · Bluesky

Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes astrobiology.com/2024/12/two-... #astrobiology #astronomy #astrogeology #astrochemistry #comet

Dec 14, 2024 · 7 likes · 3 shares View post →
CharlieBio
@CharlieBio · X

RT @PNASNews: Researchers have found additional space objects like ‘Oumuamua, which are known as “dark comets,” as they do not have glowing…

Dec 11, 2024 · 7 shares · 462 followers View post →
SpaceTime
@stuartgary · X

RT @PNASNews: Researchers have found additional space objects like ‘Oumuamua, which are known as “dark comets,” as they do not have glowing…

Dec 11, 2024 · 7 shares · 11,634 followers View post →
vik wall
@vik_wall393 · X

RT @PNASNews: Researchers have found additional space objects like ‘Oumuamua, which are known as “dark comets,” as they do not have glowing…

Dec 11, 2024 · 7 shares · 558 followers View post →
Eve Beavers-Fain BSN MPH
@espacetimeNOT · X

RT @PNASNews: Researchers have found additional space objects like ‘Oumuamua, which are known as “dark comets,” as they do not have glowing…

Dec 11, 2024 · 7 shares · 1,211 followers View post →
Jedi Jim
@JediJim249595 · X

RT @PNASNews: Researchers have found additional space objects like ‘Oumuamua, which are known as “dark comets,” as they do not have glowing…

Dec 11, 2024 · 7 shares · 186 followers View post →
PNASNews
@PNASNews · X

Researchers have found additional space objects like ‘Oumuamua, which are known as “dark comets,” as they do not have glowing tails. These objects may have once delivered water, organic chemicals, and other building blocks of life to Earth. In PNAS: https://t.co/yCu4swOGBl https://t.co/aESC0LQrFR

Dec 11, 2024 · 8 likes · 7 shares · 181,607 followers View post →
Velit.es
@velitesgear · X

RT @velitesgear | Full Text Article: https://t.co/LPbjhdTC6g | Author: @PNASNews Two distinct populations of dark comets delineated by orbits and sizes Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 121, Issue 51, December 2024. SignificanceDark comets are small bodie…

Dec 11, 2024 · 257 followers View post →
Exoplanet Courier
@exocourier.bsky.social · Bluesky

[2412.07603] Darryl Z. Seligman et al.: Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes. link

Dec 11, 2024 View post →
Michael Busch
@michael-w-busch.bsky.social · Bluesky

Today on the #arXiv : Seligman et al. 2024, "Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes" - arxiv.org/abs/2412.07603 For those unaware: The "dark comets" are asteroids that have orbits changing in ways that indicate out-gassing, but have no visible dust or gas tails.

Dec 11, 2024 · 11 likes · 7 shares View post →
AstroArxiv
@astroarxiv.bsky.social · Bluesky

Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes. Darryl Z. Seligman et. al. https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.07603

Dec 10, 2024 View post →
arXiv bot (astro-ph)
@krxiv-astro-ph.bsky.social · Bluesky

Two Distinct Populations of Dark Comets Delineated by Orbits and Sizes https://arxiv.org/pdf/2412.07603 Darryl Z. Seligman, Davide Farnocchia, Marco Micheli, Olivier R. Hainaut, Henry H. Hsieh, Adina D. Feinstein, Steven R. Chesley, Aster G. Taylor, Joseph Masiero, Karen J. Meech

Dec 10, 2024 View post →
至
@itacccchi · X

RT @Kyukimasa: @NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 10, 2024 · 8 shares · 393 followers View post →
米屋(まいや)
@karkador73 · X

RT @Kyukimasa: @NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 8 shares · 1,948 followers View post →
BP/TS1974 SJT
@STDelta13 · X

RT @Kyukimasa: @NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 8 shares · 510 followers View post →
さらす - PPMPPPm
@t2saras · X

RT @Kyukimasa: @NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 8 shares · 161 followers View post →
FURU-METAL⋈ 心は、コールドスリープ中
@furuvic · X

RT @Kyukimasa: @NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 8 shares · 776 followers View post →
MKNK/メカニカ
@Me_Ka_Ni_Ka · X

RT @Kyukimasa: @NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 8 shares · 696 followers View post →
NAL / ナルサワトモアキ
@wastedays · X

RT @Kyukimasa: @NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 8 shares · 513 followers View post →
みーや★ #宇宙機アクセサリー
@NS944A · X

RT @Kyukimasa: @NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 8 shares · 2,654 followers View post →
ゆきまさかずよし
@Kyukimasa · X

@NASA いくつかの小惑星でオウムアムアが見せたような謎の軌道変化が見られる(彗星みたいな揮発性物質の放出と思われるが尾は観測されない) https://t.co/teVf2qFaeI 地球の水の起源になった可能性がある

Dec 9, 2024 · 10 likes · 8 shares · 20,638 followers View post →
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