First Interstellar Asteroid Found

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the classification and origin of the first interstellar asteroid, A/2017 U1, observed in our solar system. Participants explore various hypotheses regarding its trajectory, speed, and whether it originated from the Oort cloud or another solar system. The conversation includes technical details about its hyperbolic orbit and comparisons to other celestial objects.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that A/2017 U1 could originate from the Oort cloud, while others assert it must come from another solar system based on its hyperbolic orbit and speed.
  • One participant mentions that the asteroid is traveling about 25 km/s too fast to have originated from the Oort cloud, suggesting it came from a direction typical for interstellar objects.
  • Another participant provides calculations indicating the asteroid's speed before feeling the Sun's pull was approximately 26.2 km/s, correcting earlier estimates.
  • There are discussions about the need for sufficient velocity to eject an object from its original solar system, questioning the feasibility of it being perturbed from the Oort cloud.
  • Some participants highlight that the asteroid did not develop a tail, which is characteristic of comets, leading to its classification as an asteroid rather than a comet.
  • One participant references the Nature article, noting that the asteroid's trajectory does not pass close to any giant planets that could have altered its orbit.
  • There are speculations about the composition of Oort cloud objects, with some participants suggesting that many are icy, while others argue that a small percentage may be asteroids.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the origin of A/2017 U1, with no consensus reached. Some believe it is from another solar system, while others maintain it could have originated from the Oort cloud. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of its trajectory and speed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations of their arguments, including the dependence on definitions of celestial object classifications and the unresolved nature of the asteroid's origin. There is also mention of the statistical challenges in applying arguments to a single data point.

  • #121
@ Austin:

No, the vast majority of solar systems orbit the centre of our galaxy in a roughly circular orbit. Very like our solar system's planets orbit around our sun.

There are plenty of solar systems which don't follow tidy 'more-or-less' circular orbits around the galactic center but they are thought to be systems whose galactic orbits can be explained by one of the following:

1) some previous gravitational interaction with another star or other massive object,
2) the star was part of a binary system whose partner went super-nova,
3) the star originated outside our galaxy and is a left-over part of an earlier galactic merger.

Sorry, but I can't do computional astronomy - I'm a C-minus at that sort of thing.
 
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  • #122
at94official said:
How did you figure all out of this? With my knowledge, solar systems move uniquely towards the center of our Galaxy, there's no way Vega is in there, from the direction of the Asteroid. Is it?

My knowledge in Astronomy is very little, I would love your direct and simple explanation.

Thanks,
Austin

The comment; "Coming from the direction of Vega" was from the ProjectPluto website. My "figuring it out" was, um..., to google it.

"Pseudo-MPEC" for A/2017 U1
...Where did it come from?
... about five degrees away from the bright star Vega.​
 
  • #123
at94official said:
Right, and we can't go back from the same spot, ever. Right?

Depends on which reference frame you use. I remember seeing a full moon on the horizon on my way home from work. Suppose I see the full moon on the horizon again a month later. Would you say it is in "the same spot"? It is "on the horizon".

Ecliptic coordinate system
Celestial coordinate system
Cosmic microwave background

the object came from RA=18h 39m 14s, dec=+33 59' 50", with an uncertainty of about 2'

That is the Equatorial coordinate system
 
  • #124
It is space time not just space.
The solar system and the galaxy as a whole cannot return to previous state.
No matter what your frame of reference is
 
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  • #125
OmCheeto said:
Any idea who runs "projectpluto.com"?
A WHOIS lookup returns the name, address, phone #
 

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