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Alien Comet May Have Infiltrated the Solar System

Posted by kdawson on from the starseed-lure dept.

New Scientist has a piece about Comet Machholz 1, whose uncommon molecular composition suggests, but does not prove, that it may be an interloper from another star system. "Comet Machholz 1 isn't like other comets. David Schleicher of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, measured the chemical makeup of 150 comets, and found that they all had similar levels of the chemical cyanogen (CN) except for Machholz 1, which has less than 1.5% of the normal level. Along with some other comets, it is also low on the molecules carbon-2 and carbon-3."

2 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Entry is Free. by berend+botje · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Besides that, how would it have come here anyway? What is the escape velocity for getting out of a star system? And, what is the chance of 'hitting' another system in stead of wandering off into the immensely large void?

    Me thinks this news smells a bit like trying to get some funding...

  2. Re:Oh, no, Alien Comet! by Geirzinho · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are no fences, but to a significant gravitational barrier to overcome when leaving the original star system. Also, to fall into orbit around or sun would require a third body to take away the excess energy. I guess this could be one of our planets, but on overall I'm suspecting more "boring" origins, such as a cold spot in our own solar system.