First Known Asteroid From Interstellar Space
A Hawaii-based astronomer discovered an interstellar asteroid on 19 October 2017. Rob Weryk, a postdoctoral student/researcher at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, discovered the asteroid from another star system using an observatory on Maui.
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Asteroid Given the Name 'Oumuamua
Weryk and Marco Micheli, a fellow Institute for Astronomy research, measured the asteroid's size, velocity and trajectory using the Pan-Starrs1 observatory on the Haleakala volcano on Maui.
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The asteroid, 1I/2017 U1, has a velocity that exceeds the escape velocity of our Sun. The asteroid's velocity and eccentric trajectory suggest it originated from outside our Solar System.
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The first known interstellar asteroid was given the name 'Oumuamua, which in Hawaiian means "a messenger from afar arriving first".
'Oumuamua has similar appearance to asteroids found in our Solar System. 'Oumuamua resembles a chunky cigar, measuring 180 meters by 30 meters.
It is theorized that 'Oumuamua was flung out of it's solar system as it was forming. 'Oumuamua may be the first evidence astronomers have observed of such an interstellar asteroid.
Sources and Full Articles
Interstellar asteroid is given a name, BBC News, 17 November 2017
Interstellar Interloper 1I/2017 U1: Observations from the NOT and WIYN Telescopes, Astrophysical Journal Letters
Thank You!
Thank you!
great
I'm going to research this on my own. I now want to know how easily this bad boy got through the Oort cloud
Greater than escape velocity of sun!!! . sounds adorable. What are these Hawaii-based astronomers??
Hawaii-based astronomers are researchers, not from Hawaii, that are fortunate enough to be working in Hawaii.
Have a great day!
Steem on,
Mike
ok, thanks. :)
I like your article and the way of presenting to us, have a good day!
yaehhhhh
I like your article and the way of presenting to us, have a good day!
I'm going to research this on my own.
Nice one..
nicely posted
First Interstellar Space intresting news bro thanks.