Overview
- The UN’s International Asteroid Warning Network began a two‑month observing exercise on Nov. 27 to coordinate telescopes worldwide and refine comet astrometry through Jan. 27, 2026.
- A new preprint reports evidence consistent with a natural comet akin to trans‑Neptunian bodies, citing water ice, cryovolcanic activity, a ~16‑hour rotation, and surface chemistry that could explain elevated nickel in the coma.
- Recent imagery shows an unusual evolution from an anti‑tail to a large conventional tail, a blue color linked to ionized carbon monoxide, extreme polarization, and non‑gravitational acceleration that remain under study.
- The closest approach is expected on Dec. 19 at roughly 1.6–1.8 AU (about 240–270 million km), with no impact risk and likely visibility only for telescopes.
- Preliminary simulations suggest a potential trajectory perturbation from a close interaction with Jupiter around March 16, 2026, with outcomes dependent on continued measurements.