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First Extrasolar Object Observed Racing Through Our Solar System (space.com)
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."
The first on many... :-)
Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
Arthur C. Clarke was right again!
The object definitely deserves a more prosaic name. Like Rama... :-)
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!
Just wait for the course correction
politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
"ALIENS!"
That'll also be useful if Harvey Weinestein stops by
It's already heading out of the solar system, so no need to worry about any malicious intent. TFA says that it passed perihelion around Sep. 9. It was closest to the Earth on Oct 14, at about 15 million miles (24 million km, sorry don't have it in LOC). It's heading toward the constellation Pegasus at over 97000 mph. Maybe we'll send them a warning in a few years?
It's a bit unsettling that we didn't notice this until it had passed the earth at a relatively close distance, and passed through the plane of the ecliptic twice. I know the chances of an impact are very low, but the late detection indicates that we may be missing an unknown number of events like this, and may not be correct about estimates of the chances of being hit by one.
Interesting that it came in perpendicular to the ecliptic plane inside Mercury's orbit slingshots around the sun and then makes a b-line for Earth making a close approach at 15 million miles.
Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.
Escape speed from 1 AU (Earth's orbital radius) is about 42 km/s. The speed of this object, stated as 156,400 km/h, is just over 43/km/h. Assuming the object is a bit more than 1 AU from the Sun right now, it will escape the solar system but not by a wide margin.
The Bugs send another meteor our way !
But this time we are ready !
Planetary defenses are better than ever !
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A signal was received from the artifact. NASAâ(TM)s super computers decoded the message. The message reads, âoeSend more Chuck Berryâ