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Update
07 November 2018 13:01:41
Experts have expressed skepticism at claims by two Harvard astronomers that an interstellar object that would have crossed our solar system in late 2017 and early 2018 could have been part of an alien space ship.
Key points:
- One study suggests that Oumuamua is not an "active comet" and could be an "abandoned light sail of extraterrestrial origin"
- The interstellar object was discovered for the first time in October 2017 and measured less than 400 meters in diameter
- Other experts have expressed skepticism about the results of the study
Shmuel Bialy and Abraham Loeb, two astronomers from the Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Center, have suggested that this cigar-shaped object – given the Hawaiian name "Oumuamua," says NASA "means a far-away messenger who arrives first" – would have could be an abandoned alien veil of alien origin, perhaps sent here on purpose.
Similar to how a sailing boat uses the wind in its sail to push it forward, a spaceship with a light sail uses the light of a nearby star to propel it, with a radiating pressure exerting a force minimal.
"Recent observational and theoretical studies suggest that Oumuamua is not an active comet," said the researchers in a preliminary version of their study.
"If the radiation pressure is the force of acceleration, then" Oumuamua represents a new clbad of thin interstellar materials, produced naturally, according to a still unknown process [interstellar medium] or in proto-planetary disks, or of artificial origin. "
They said that he seemed to use solar radiation as a source of energy, and even if it was a natural object, he remained unique.
Alan Jackson, a member of the Center for Planetary Sciences at the University of Toronto in Scarborough, told CNN that the study "clearly lacked evidence, not to mention extraordinary evidence" and that the spectral data suggested that the object was a asteroid or comet.
"Any functional spaceship would almost certainly remove its solar sail once in interstellar space to avoid damage," Jackson said.
"Sailing is useless once out of a star, so there is no reason to leave it deployed."
"If it were then deployed again by entering the solar system, it would be immaculate, even if it was left deployed, the accumulation of dust would be mainly on the side of the heads, like insects on a windshield."
Astrophysicist Katie Mack has also expressed skepticism towards the study, encouraging Twitter users to be cautious when reading "huge if true" statements.
& # 39; Oumuamua is native to the solar system
At the end of the month of October 2017, NASA stated that the newly discovered interstellar visitor appeared to "come from outside the solar system, and come from elsewhere in our galaxy".
"This unusual object … is less than [400 metres] in diameter and moves remarkably fast, "said NASA at the time.
"Astronomers are working urgently to direct telescopes around the world and into space towards this remarkable object.
"Once these data are obtained and badyzed, astronomers can learn more about the origin and possibly the composition of the object."
Davide Farnocchia, a scientist at NASA 's Center for Near – Earth Objects, who works at the agency' s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, said he 's sure he' s going to work in California. was the "most extreme orbit" that he saw.
"It goes extremely fast and on such a trajectory that we can say with certainty that this object is coming out of the solar system and not coming back," Farnocchia said shortly after his discovery.
Topics:
spatialship,
astronomy, space,
United States
First posted
November 07, 2018 12:05:53
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