Main-belt comets: sublimation-driven activity in the asteroid belt

TL;DR

Main-belt comets are a unique class of objects in the asteroid belt showing sublimation-driven activity, with recent research focusing on their discovery, distinguishing features, and physical properties.

Contribution

This paper reviews the last decade's advancements in understanding main-belt comets, including discovery methods, diagnostics, and their dynamical and thermal characteristics.

Findings

Development of systematic discovery techniques for MBCs

Diagnostics to distinguish MBCs from disrupted asteroids

Insights into the dynamical and thermal properties of MBCs

Abstract

Our knowledge of main-belt comets (MBCs), which exhibit comet-like activity likely due to the sublimation of volatile ices, yet orbit in the main asteroid belt, has increased greatly since the discovery of the first known MBC, 133P/Elst-Pizarro, in 1996, and their recognition as a new class of solar system objects after the discovery of two more MBCs in 2005. I review work that has been done over the last 10 years to improve our understanding of these enigmatic objects, including the development of systematic discovery methods and diagnostics for distinguishing MBCs from disrupted asteroids (which exhibit comet-like activity due to physical disruptions such as impacts or rotational destabilization). I also discuss efforts to understand the dynamical and thermal properties of these objects.