Mystery space object may be more than an asteroid, Harvard scientist pushes back on NASA chief
A dispute over 1998 KY26
The near-Earth object 1998 KY26 is believed to be an asteroid, but Loeb says its motion challenges that explanation. In an interview with Fox News Digital on Friday, he argued that the object appears to accelerate for reasons beyond gravity.
NASA chief Jared Isaacman said he had seen no evidence that the object was anything other than an asteroid. Loeb rejected that assessment, saying the observed acceleration suggests an additional force is acting on it.
The Phobos 1 possibility
Loeb and his colleagues have considered whether 1998 KY26 could be Phobos 1, a Soviet spacecraft that was traveling to Mars when communication stopped in 1988. The idea offers an alternative to the usual asteroid explanation, but the article does not establish that the object is the spacecraft.
Loeb has said a 2031 mission could settle the question. The object is roughly 36 feet wide, according to the report.
What the acceleration means
Loeb’s argument rests on what he calls non-gravitational acceleration: movement he says cannot be explained by gravity alone. He contends that this makes the asteroid label inappropriate because asteroids are rocks.
Isaacman’s position differs: he said he had not seen evidence pointing to anything other than an asteroid. The competing interpretations leave the object’s identity unresolved.
Key points
- 1998 KY26 is believed to be a near-Earth asteroid and is roughly 36 feet wide.
- Avi Loeb says its acceleration cannot be explained by gravity alone.
- Loeb and colleagues have examined whether it could be the lost Soviet spacecraft Phobos 1.
- A 2031 mission could help settle the object’s identity.