BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy It came from beyond the Solar System

It came from outside the Solar System. And it's very strange. It's official is designation 1I/2017 U1 and it's been named 'Oumuamua.

But what is it? The picture is an artist's rendering using the data collected from telescopes. It's too small actually to be seen, even through a powerful telescope.

It's an asteroid - the first one observed visiting our Solar System from elsewhere. Its designation 1I/2017 U1 shows that it's the first "I" (interstellar) space rock known. It's up to 400 meters long and cigar-shaped. No known asteroid has ever been this shape.

'Oumuamua (officially designated 11/2017/U1), first identified interstellar visitor, came and went very quickly. Here's a short video about the interstellar visitor published in November 2017.

On December 13, 2017, at the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre, Ron Macnaughton gave a presentation on the mystery of the celestial object called "Oumuamua". Is it a comet or an asteroid? Where did it come from?

This video - less than 10 mis - is a good summary of the discovery of the mystery object and how we know it's come from another star system. And if you likeAustralian accents . . . .

Mona, I was able to watch something on TV - it was about how the earth was formed. Talking about comets and asteroids, planets, etc. coming through the solar system. It was narrated by an astronaut whose last name began with an M. I didn't get to see the entire story but it was a version I had never heard before.

Mike Massimino

I've not seen the program, Angie, but it sounds interesting.