Slashdot Mirror


Study of Recent Interstellar Asteroid Reveals Bizarre Shape (bbc.com)

JoeRobe writes: A few weeks ago an interstellar asteroid, now named "Oumuamua," was discovered passing through our solar system. Being the first interstellar asteroid to ever be observed, a flurry of observations soon followed. This week, an accelerated article in Nature reveals that Oumuamua is more bizarre than originally thought: it is elongated, with a 10:1 aspect ratio, and rapidly rotating. This conclusion is based upon comparisons of its time-dependent light curve to those from 20,000 known asteroids.

5 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. Hello Rama! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    We will not be coming this time.

  2. Longer than it is Wide by mentil · · Score: 3, Funny

    So a massive, rock-hard, spinning space phallus is penetrating our solar system? Hopefully it avoids us and finds its way to a Black Hole.

    --
    Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
  3. What's the real story? by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 4, Funny

    The story leaves out the most important part, one we know by direct empirical evidence is more newsworthy than anything else: What kind of shirt was the spokesman wearing when he made the announcement? This critical piece of information is missing and we cannot possibly judge the impact of this news release without it.

    --
    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
  4. Dr. Evil? by boudie2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Johnson: [Noticing Dr. Evil's spaceship on radar] Colonel, you better have a look at this radar
    . Colonel: What is it, son?
    Johnson: I don't know, sir, but it looks like a giant--
    Jet Pilot: Dick.
    Dick: Yeah?
    Jet Pilot: Take a look out of starboard.
    Dick: Oh my God, it looks like a huge--
    Bird-Watching Woman: Pecker.
    Bird-Watching Man: [raising binoculars] Ooh, Where?
    Bird-Watching Woman: Wait, that's not a woodpecker, it looks like someone's--
    Army Sergeant: Privates! We have reports of an unidentified flying object. It has a long, smooth shaft, complete with--
    Baseball Umpire: Two balls.
    [looking up from game]
    Baseball Umpire: What is that. It looks just like an enormous--
    Chinese Teacher: Wang, pay attention!
    Wang: I was distracted by that giant flying--
    Musician: Willie.
    Willie Nelson: Yeah?
    Musician: What's that?
    Willie Nelson: [squints] Well, that looks like a giant--
    Colonel: Johnson?!
    Johnson: Yes, sir?
    Colonel: Get on the horn to British Intelligence and let them know about this.
    Later, as Dr. Evil is escaping: Basil: Did we get Dr. Evil?
    Johnson: No, sir. He got away in that rocket that looks like a huge--
    Schoolteacher: Penis. The male reproductive organ. Otherwise known as tallywhacker, schlong or--
    Dad: Weiner? Any of you kids want another weiner?
    Son: Dad? What's that? points at rocket
    Dad: I don't know, son, but it's got great big--
    Peanut seller: Nuts! Hot salty nuts! Who wants some-- Lord Almighty!
    Woman: That looks just like my husband's--
    Ringmaster: One-eyed monster! Step right up and see the One-Eyed Monster!
    One-eyed Monster: jumps out and scares crowd, then points to the rocket Hey, what's that? It looks like a big--
    female Fan: Woody! Woody Harrelson? Can I have an autograph?
    Woody Harrelson: Sure thing. [Sees rocket] Oh my lord.
    Female fan: It's big!
    Woody: Nah, I've seen bigger, it's--
    Dr. Evil: (To Mini-Me) Just a little prick. It's a flu shot. You've been in the coldness of space.

  5. Re:Star Trek? by Hal_Porter · · Score: 5, Funny

    The plot of Star Trek IV : The Voyage Home can be summed up as

    [cetacean needed].

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;