If an object looks sharp (star-like) and lacks fuzziness, what is it unlikely to be, even if it is moving?
Answer
An active comet.
The presence of a fuzzy coma resulting from sublimation is the primary visual hallmark of an active comet when observed telescopically. If an object appears sharp, even if it is bright, it strongly suggests it is not an active comet shedding volatiles near the Sun. Such objects are far more likely to be asteroids, which are primarily rocky bodies with relatively circular orbits that maintain a star-like appearance, or possibly an extinct comet nucleus that has already lost most of its ice, thus lacking the necessary outgassing to produce fuzziness.
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