AI and the World's Hard Problems · Astronomy & space · arXiv · 2026-10-26
Discovery of activity on Main Belt Asteroid 6993 (1995 BJ4)
Activity on main-belt asteroid 6993 (1995 BJ4) was discovered in Zwicky Transient Facility alert stream data with the help of machine learning, with activity visible from June 25, 2026. The authors argue it is more likely caused by an impact or sublimation than by rotational instability. If sublimation-driven, 6993 would be the largest known main-belt comet, and it should be monitored as it nears perihelion in January 2027.