Mysterious object accelerates and approaches Earth - Israeli scientist: It's a lost spacecraft

A mysterious object 11 meters in diameter, 1998 KY26, is accelerating toward Earth in a way not explained by gravity. New research rules out the 'dark comet' explanation. Prof. Avi Loeb suggests it may be the lost Soviet probe Phobos 1. NASA reassures: it poses no threat. The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa 2 is expected to meet it in 2031.

A mysterious object named 1998 KY26, about 11 meters in diameter, is accelerating and approaching Earth in a way not explained by gravity alone. New research casts doubt on the previous explanation that it is a 'dark comet' releasing gas from hidden ice. Prof. Avi Loeb of Harvard suggests the object is actually the lost Soviet probe Phobos 1, launched in 1988 and lost shortly after. According to him, its size, high light reflectivity (52%), and brightness variations support the hypothesis. NASA head Jared Isaacman said he sees no evidence that it is a spacecraft. The Japanese space agency JAXA plans to send the Hayabusa 2 spacecraft to meet the object in July 2031, which may solve the mystery.