Strange New Comet Explains Old Mystery

This chart shows the orbital paths (looking along the plane of the solar system) for the comet 2008 KV42 as well as other objects in the outer solar system.

Why Does Halley’s Comet Orbit Backwards? New Find Hints
At The Reason -- MSNBC

Halley's Comet, which lights up Earth's sky every 75 years with its glowing tail, is a bit of a scientific mystery.

So far, theories have been at a loss to explain how it acquired its extremely unusual backwards orbit — but the recent discovery of another odd comet orbiting farther out in the solar system may shed light on Halley's origins.

The newly discovered comet, 2008 KV42, circles the sun at a tilt of 104 degrees compared to the main plane in which most of the planets and asteroids travel. The newfound oddball also orbits in reverse compared to almost everything else. Scientists think it might represent an intermediate point between comets like Halley's and their progenitors in the far and totally uncharted reaches of the solar system.

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