Story perspectives

Comet 41P Shocks Scientists with Reversed Spin Direction

3/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Scientists observed that Comet 41P unexpectedly stopped spinning and then reversed direction.
This change demonstrates how quickly small comets can alter rotation and may explain their disintegration.
Dr. David Jewitt of UCLA noted spin period extended from 20 hours to over 46 hours within months, as reported in The Astronomical Journal.
Active jets, distributed unevenly, influence the rotation.
A close approach in 2028 will allow astronomers to monitor its stability.

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Story summary

Scientists observed that Comet 41P unexpectedly stopped spinning and then reversed direction.
This change demonstrates how quickly small comets can alter rotation and may explain their disintegration.
Dr. David Jewitt of UCLA noted spin period extended from 20 hours to over 46 hours within months, as reported in The Astronomical Journal.
Active jets, distributed unevenly, influence the rotation.
A close approach in 2028 will allow astronomers to monitor its stability.