Astronomers Discover Largest Oort Cloud Comet Ever
Astronomers have discovered that the largest Oort Cloud comet, C 2014 UN271, is active far from the Sun, venting carbon monoxide gas at over a billion miles away, challenging previous assumptions about comet dormancy in the outer solar system. Using ALMA, they observed jets and activity driven by volatile ices, providing new insights into comet evolution and the early solar system materials. The comet will approach the Sun in 2031, offering opportunities to study how its activity changes as it warms.