Ground- and space-based telescopes scan Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object to visit the Solar System, for any sign of alien tech – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

Ground- and space-based telescopes scan Oumuamua, the first known interstellar object to visit the Solar System, for any sign of alien tech




Image credit: ESO Illustration / M. Kornmesser

When it first appeared on the screens of Hawaii’s telescopes on October 19 last, astronomers did not know what to think of it.

The anomaly had an unusually elongated, cigar-like shape. And it was large, roughly the size of a football field. The anomaly had a rapidly changing albedo and rotated relatively quickly, too. After careful observation, scientists determined that it rotated on its own axis once every 7.3 hours.

But what observers were most puzzled about was the object’s shape. Natural structures are not known to have such elongated, cigar-like shape.

The first question in everyone’s mind: What is it? And where does it come from?

Unable to answer either, at least temporarily, astronomers gave object A/2017 UI a recognizable name: Oumuamua, the Hawaiian word for ‘scout’ or ‘messenger.’

Oumuamua entered our Solar System above the plane of the ecliptic, coming in from the direction of Vega in the Lyra Constellation, at a speed of about 85,700 miles per hour. Assuming a constant speed, it would have taken Oumuamua about 600,000 years to reach the Solar System from Vega. The anomaly is flying so fast that there is no chance it can be trapped into an orbit, which means that it will leave the Solar System at some point and continue its endless journey across space. Astronomers believe that Oumumua may have been wandering for hundreds of millions of years before finding us.

Now, observation equipment both on Earth and space is being used to track Oumuamua’s progress, and also, to scan it for the presence of any sign of alien technology.

Oumuamua’s shape is most intriguing, as most astronomers agree that a spacefaring alien craft would most likely be shaped in such a way. A long, thin, sleek structure to smoothly traverse the vast reaches deep space. Some wayward theories have emerged, deeming the anomaly to be some sort of alien probe.

Scientists will keep tracking this peculiar object while it remains visible, before it disappears into the vastness of interstellar space forever.

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