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First Extrasolar Object Observed Racing Through Our Solar System (space.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the first-of-its-kind dept.

Enigma2175 writes: For the first time, scientists have observed an object they believe came from outside our solar system. The object is in a hyperbolic orbit that will send it back into interstellar space. From Space.com: "The object, known as A/2017 U1, was detected last week by researchers using the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii. 'It's long been theorized that such objects exist -- asteroids or comets moving around between the stars and occasionally passing through our solar system -- but this is the first such detection,' Chodas added. 'So far, everything indicates this is likely an interstellar object, but more data would help to confirm it.' It's unclear what exactly this thing is. When A/2017 U1 was first spotted, it was thought to be a comet (and was therefore given the moniker C/2017 U1). But further observations have revealed no evidence of a coma -- the fuzzy cloud of gas and dust surrounding a comet's core -- so the object's name was amended to its current asteroidal designation."

14 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Hollowed manned asteroid by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    The first on many... :-)

    --
    Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
    1. Re:Hollowed manned asteroid by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 4, Funny

      Just in time for Holloween?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  2. Rendezvous with Rama by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Arthur C. Clarke was right again!

    1. Re:Rendezvous with Rama by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 4, Funny

      Its a pretty slow space craft. I doubt it came from Vega.

      Slow is relative. It could be populated by a race of space sloths.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
  3. Que Randezvous with Rama by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The object definitely deserves a more prosaic name. Like Rama... :-)

  4. Re:Greeting from the Outer Space at Halloween! by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

    How appropriate!

    Well, I sure hope that the UN Security Council is working feverishly on creating a stockpile of young virgins and candy . . .

    . . . just in case the aliens stop by the Earth, ring our doorbell, and demand a "trick or treat" . . .

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  5. How to kickstart space exploration by petes_PoV · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just wait for the course correction

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
    1. Re:How to kickstart space exploration by GrumpySteen · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's an interesting idea. If you could covertly adjust the course of an asteroid as passed by Earth so that nobody knew why it changed, it would cause a huge reaction.

      Any billionaires out there feel like trolling the entire human race?

  6. (Arnold J. Rimmer voice) by sheramil · · Score: 4, Funny

    "ALIENS!"

  7. Re:Greeting from the Outer Space at Halloween! by GrumpySteen · · Score: 4, Funny

    That'll also be useful if Harvey Weinestein stops by

  8. BUGS! by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Bugs send another meteor our way !
    But this time we are ready !
    Planetary defenses are better than ever !
    Would you like to know more ?

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  9. Re:Already on the way out. by SecurityGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's already heading out of the solar system, so no need to worry about any malicious intent.

    Somewhere, someone just deleted a voluminous bit of text, replaced it with "Mostly harmless.", and went on listening to Vogon poetry.

  10. Re:Penoid by GunJah · · Score: 3, Funny

    If I were an Alien in charge of designing a close reconnaissance of Earth, I could not have planned a better trajectory than this.
    Perhaps A/2017 U1's mothership will rendezvous just outside the oort cloud.

  11. Re: Penoid by LifesABeach · · Score: 4, Funny

    A signal was received from the artifact. NASAâ(TM)s super computers decoded the message. The message reads, âoeSend more Chuck Berryâ