China's Tianwen-2 Probe to Explore Comet 311P
China's soon-to-be-launched Tianwen-2 probe will explore the Comet 311P in an effort to better understand the composition, structure, and evolution of small space objects, said an expert of the National Astronomical Observatories of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The Tianwen-2 probe, scheduled for launch in the first half of 2025, will collect samples from near-Earth asteroid 2016 HO3 and explore Comet 311P, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
Comet 311P orbits in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids reside, containing over 90 percent of the asteroids in the solar system. It displays features of both comets and asteroids. It has become the seventh main-belt comet confirmed by human beings, and it is also the most peculiar one so far.
"The main-belt comet is another type of asteroid. It should be noted that it is not a true comet, but it may share some characteristics with comets, which is why it is called a main-belt comet or active asteroid. It may emit substances, including gas and particles, when it is close to the sun, which has been observed and is another research hotspot," said Yan Wei, a senior engineer at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
According to the conventional theory, comets typically originate from the outer edges of the solar system and are rich in ice. As they approach the sun, the heat causes the ice to vaporize, forming their characteristic tails. However, Comet 311P, located in the asteroid belt—far closer to the sun than typical comets—faces intense solar radiation, making it unlikely to retain volatile substances like water ice. This comet challenges astronomers' traditional understanding.
The Tianwen-2 probe is set to visit Comet 311P, the "rebel" of the asteroid belt, to uncover the mysteries that defy current knowledge.
Comet 311P/PanSTARRS also known as P/2013 P5 (PanSTARRS) is an active asteroid (object with asteroid-like orbit but with comet-like visual characteristics) discovered by Bryce T. Bolin using the Pan-STARRS telescope on August 27, 2013. Observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope revealed that it had six comet-like tails. The tails are suspected to be streams of material ejected by the asteroid as a result of a rubble pile asteroid spinning fast enough to remove material from it. This is similar to 331P/Gibbs, which was found to be a quickly-spinning rubble pile as well.
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Feb. 21, 2025
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