Researchers may have found an interstellar comet in our solar system

You're not from around here.
By  Miriam Kramer  on October 26, 2017
Pan-STARRS1 Observatory atop Haleakala Maui at sunset.
Pan-STARRS1 Observatory atop Haleakala Maui at sunset. Credit: Photo by Rob Ratkowski

Whatever it is, it doesn't look like it's from around here.

Researchers think they've just spotted the first known comet or asteroid that may have come from outside our solar system.

Astronomer Rob Weryk first spotted the object, called A/2017 U1 on October 19 while using the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii, according to NASA.

After Weryk submitted his finding, he also found other, previous observations of the object that hadn't been picked out of the data from the day before.

"Its motion could not be explained using either a normal solar system asteroid or comet orbit," Weryk said in a statement.

"This object came from outside our solar system."

Via Giphy

If confirmed, this interstellar visitor would be a pretty big deal.

While we can use huge telescopes on Earth and in space to spy on other stars and even galaxies, actually seeing an interstellar object from close range in our own solar system could help us understand even more about how our galaxy functions.

"We have been waiting for this day for decades," NASA's Paul Chodas said in the statement.

"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. So far, everything indicates this is likely an interstellar object, but more data would help to confirm it."

"We have been waiting for this day for decades"

It looks as if the object flew into the solar system from above, diving down toward the sun, almost running perpendicular to the plane where the planets move in their orbits.

According to NASA, the small body passed between Mercury and the sun on September 2, making its close approach to the sun about one week later. At that point, it was turned by the sun's gravity and is now flying at 27 miles per second, NASA said, toward Pegasus.

While it certainly looks as if the small object comes from outside of the solar system, it's still possible that A/2017 U1 has a more common origin.

According to astrophysicist Maria Womack, who spoke with New Scientist, the object "could have interacted with Jupiter or another planet in such a way that changed its orbit."

Researchers are still hoping for more observations of A/2017 U1 to nail down exactly where this comet or asteroid is coming from.

But at least for right now, it's looking a lot like this comet or asteroid isn't from around here.

The Minor Planet Center (MPC) -- which serves as a clearinghouse for cataloguing small bodies in the solar system -- appears to be somewhat confident that A/2017 U1 is interstellar in origin.

"If further observations confirm the unusual nature of this orbit, this object may be the first clear case of an interstellar comet," the MPC said in a statement on its observing page for the object.

If it is of interstellar origin, it could present an interesting problem for the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the organization tasked with officially naming planets, stars, comets, asteroids, and other objects in the universe.

Because we've never seen an interstellar comet or asteroid before, the IAU will need to develop some way to name it and establish new conventions for naming any other objects like A/2017 U1 that we might see in the future.

"This is the most extreme orbit I have ever seen," NASA scientist Davide Farnocchia said in the statement.


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