Lazarus comet

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

• List of astronomical objects named after people

References

1. "Between Mars and Jupiter, a Comet Graveyard May Rise Again (VIDEO)". Slate. 2 August 2013.
2. 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.
3. "'Lazarus' comets may be returning to life in asteroid field". Los Angeles Times. 2013-08-02.