NASA reclassifies near-Earth object 1998 SH2 as an active comet

NASA studies reclassify a near-Earth object previously listed as an asteroid as an active comet. The body, designated 1998 SH2, has been under study for decades, but newer observations now show signs of cometary activity. According to reports, researchers detect a faint tail and related emission or activity consistent with a comet, leading to the change in classification. The updated identification is expected to improve how scientists catalogue and track objects that pass near Earth, including those that can be misidentified due to limited or ambiguous early data. By confirming the object’s comet-like behavior, the findings also support efforts to assess any potential space-related risks more accurately. Both sources describe the discovery as the result of follow-up observations using advanced astronomical instruments, rather than a change driven by a new orbit determination alone. Future observation and mission work are expected to further refine monitoring and characterization of 1998 SH2 and similar near-Earth bodies.